Utilities and Developers - Working Together for the Common Good

Utilities and Developers – Working Together For the Common Good

Presented by Paul OSullivan

Sharp Solar Energy Solutions

Developers and utilities have traditionally had strained relationships due largely in part to a lack of understanding about the others business.  With a little bit of understanding, patience, and compromise, utilities and developers can work together better and ultimately help the solar industry grow.

Developers need to work with the understanding that the utilities are a necessary part of the solar industry and that the solar industry will not exist in five years if it doesn’t figure out how to work effectively with utilities.  Utilities face tremendous technical challenges in incorporating solar energy into their portfolio.  And developers also need to recognize that for solar to work for utilities, the utilities need to be able to make money from solar energy.

On the flip side, utilities can understandably feel threatened by a brand new technology that has the potential to completely turn their business upside down.  However utilities that are going to be successful are the ones that will embrace new technologies and lead the way in the move towards renewables.  We can’t let a lack of understanding and education between the two parties get in the way of growing our industry.

This session will explore PG+E’s recently announced Solar Photovoltaic Program PPA which aims to procure 250 MW within 5 years as a case study on ways that developers and utilities are working together for the common good.