Distributed Generation, Finance, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  October 9, 2019

Occidental completes solar farm to power oil operations

Occidental Petroleum Corp announced Oct. 3 the completion of their first solar facility to directly power its oil and gas operations in addition to signing a long-term PPA for 109 MW of solar energy beginning in 2021.

The power generated by the US oil and gas producer’s Goldsmith field solar facility in Odessa, Tex., will provide energy for its entire enhanced oil recovery field operation in the Permian Basin. The 120-acre field in Ector County features 174,000 PV panels with a total capacity of 16 MW and is the first of its kind to directly power oil and gas operations in Texas.

The 12-year PPA for a solar facility in West Texas was signed between Occidental’s Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary and a joint venture between Macquarie’s Green Investment Group and Core Solar LLC.

“Occidental is taking an important step toward realizing our aspiration to become carbon neutral through the use of emissions-free solar electricity,” Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, said in a statement. “Using solar energy in our operations is another way Oxy Low Carbon Ventures is enhancing the profitability and sustainability of our business while meeting the challenge of reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases.”