Spanish energy group Iberdrola Renovables announced plans on Oct. 14 to build its first two solar power plants in the United States, where it is already the second largest wind power operator.
One plant, in Alamosa, Colorado, will have capacity of 30 Megawatts and should be operational early next year, the company said.
The other, in Copper Crossing in Arizona, will have capacity of 20 megawatts and is expected to be commissioned in June 2011.
"These projects will give Iberdrola Renovables a foothold in the nation’s photovoltaic (solar panel) business and fall under the company’s strategy of investing in non-wind opportunities that meet its sustainability and return criteria," it said.
Some 97% of the company's capacity is wind technology but "these two projects come under Iberdrola Renovables’ strategy of investing in non-wind opportunities," it said.
The company said it is the number two wind power operator in the United States, with operations in 23 states. At the end of September 2010, it had installed capacity there of 4,314 Megawatts spread over 47 wind farms.
Iberdrola Renovables, a subsidiary of Spanish power giant Iberdrola, has targeted the United States and Britain as its priority markets in the coming years.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010