Final IRP bids a mix of renewables, thermal

The five bids remaining for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s long-term energy plans include a mix of renewable and thermal projects.

According to the latest presentation of Leidos Engineering LLC, the third party reviewing these bids, there are two “renewable,” and three “thermal” projects under consideration.

CUC has described their long-term energy plans, or “integrated resource management” plan, as a combination of both base-load and renewable energy sources capable of providing reliable power at the lowest price to consumers.

These plans will stretch up to 25 years.

According to Leidos’ presentation file, one bidder—or “Renewable 1”—has offered a range of solar generation, both with and without storage and including optionality with regard to site control at specific feeders.

This bidder has a range of bids that cover from one megawatt to 10 megawatt max capacity.

“Renewable 1” would be a 25-year power purchase agreement, with no upfront cash from CUC.

Another bidder, “Renewable 2,” provides simple solar generation with 10-megawatt max capacity, according to Leidos.

It also wants a 25-year power purchase agreement with no upfront cash.

A third bidder—termed “Thermal 1”—has a project that involves diesel engines burning heavy fuel oil, according to Leidos.

Max capacity for this bidder is at 30 megawatt with four units total.

“Thermal 1” plans for a 20-year power purchase agreement with no upfront CUC cash, and CUC-supplied fuel, or “tolling.”

Tolling agreements are contracts where one party provides a company with one form of fuel to be converted into another form of fuel on their behalf.

“Thermal 2”—the second thermal energy bid—proposes diesel engines burning light fuel at 30 megawatt max capacity over four units.

“Thermal 2” wants an engineering, procurement, and construction, or EPC, contract to construct, and an operations and maintenance, or O&M contract, to operate.

This project will be CUC financed and with CUC-supplied fuel.

“Thermal 3”—the last bidder—is described by Leidos as a project ranging from “extending CUC’s existing assets to new diesel engines burning light fuel.”

This bid plans a max capacity of 30 to 70 megawatts over 12 units. They want a 20-year power purchase agreement requiring CUC securitization and guarantees, with no upfront CUC cash, and using CUC-supplied fuel.