Today in the U.S., we have an estimated 20 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar energy capacity, which is enough to power more than 4 million U.S. homes and we’re going to double both of those numbers by the end of next year, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.
Since entering the solar market in 2008, Amec Foster Wheeler has delivered nearly 700-megawatts (MW) of solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, and we have now announced a further 250MW with the completion of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development’s Copper Mountain Solar 3 project in Nevada. One of the largest company and U.S. photovoltaic (PV) solar projects, the facility was dedicated at an event in Boulder City, Nevada, which I attended with leadership from Amec Foster Wheeler, Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development, along with state and local officials and community leaders.
The 1,400-acre plant is the third phase of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power's jointly-owned landmark Copper Mountain Solar complex, which will produce enough clean energy to power about 80,000 homes. Furthermore, the project requires no water to generate electricity - a critical factor in sustainable growth.
Amec Foster Wheeler won the competitive pitch in 2013, since then, during the 18 month construction period, we have installed 1,132,800 PV modules, 410 miles of electrical cable and nearly 200,000 foundation posts.
This significant U.S. solar market project demonstrates our growing position in renewables and clean energy as well as our ability to leverage our global design, engineering and project management expertise to deliver projects for our customers.
Copper Mountain Solar 3 is the culmination of hard work and a great partnership with Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development. Construction on a 94-MW expansion of the Copper Mountain Solar complex, Copper Mountain Solar 4, is expected to get underway later this year and we look forward to continuing our work with Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and Consolidated Edison Development on this landmark solar complex.