San Antonio’s CPS Targets 600 MW Solar PPAs

• CPS Energy seeks up to 600 MW of solar PPAs, locking in long-term prices and grid-ready designs to power growing San Antonio—battery-ready, financeable, and fast-tracked.

CPS Energy issued an RFP to buy up to 600 MW of solar via PPAs, advancing its plan to add clean capacity, hedge fuel costs, and serve a growing San Antonio load. PPAs lock in 15–25-year prices, shift construction risk to developers, and deliver daytime power without city debt.

Bids will favor financeable designs—bifacial modules on single-axis trackers, optimized DC/AC ratios, and ERCOT-compliant controls—with sites near strong substations and optional space for future 2–4 hour batteries. Beyond price, CPS will weigh maturity, interconnection status, realistic schedules, community commitments, and hourly/seasonal output; projects could break ground as equipment lead times allow.

Which technical and siting criteria will CPS prioritize in its 600 MW solar RFP?

• Proven utility-scale design: bifacial modules on single-axis trackers, bankable inverter platforms, and optimized inverter loading (DC/AC) to extend shoulder-hour output and limit clipping
  
• ERCOT-ready controls: certified ride-through, reactive power and voltage regulation, primary frequency response, AGC/dispatchability, curtailment setpoints, SCADA/ICCP telemetry, and cybersecurity aligned with ERCOT/NERC practices
  
• Interconnection maturity: advanced position in the ERCOT queue, completed studies, clear upgrade scope and costs, signed IA where possible, and deliverability to the South Zone/CPS load pocket to minimize basis risk
  
• Strong grid tie: short gen-tie distances, high-voltage POIs with headroom, proximity to robust substations/lines with low congestion and minimal remedial action scheme exposure
  
• Storage-readiness: physical space, thermal management, and interconnection capacity reserved for a 2–4 hour BESS add-on; ability to provide ERCOT ancillary services (FFR/ECRS) if storage is included later
  
• Schedule realism: executable COD timelines that reflect current equipment lead times, import/UFLPA compliance, and construction resource availability; tier-1 supply with firm allocations
  
• Performance guarantees: clear availability KPIs, degradation assumptions, ELCC/seasonal profiles, and hail/high-wind stow strategies; spares strategy and OEM warranties with bankable backstops
  
• Site quality: secured land control, low shading, favorable geotechnical/soils, minimal grading, outside floodplains and wetlands, and acceptable albedo/soiling characteristics; efficient O&M access and water supply for panel washing
  
• Environmental and permitting: completed surveys for species/cultural resources, FAA/DOD clearances, community acceptance plans, decommissioning security, and pollinator/agrivoltaic options where feasible
  
• Community and workforce: local hiring, apprenticeship participation, safety record, supplier diversity, and documented stakeholder engagement; tax/PILOT structures that stabilize host-community revenue
  
• Cost and hedge value: competitive PPA price with transparent escalation, tax credit strategy (ITC/PTC/transferability) that lowers delivered cost, and hourly/seasonal production aligned with CPS load shape
• Operational integration: reliable telemetry to CPS operations, fast curtailment response, ramp-rate control, and maintenance plans that protect peak summer availability
• Resilience and weatherization: equipment ratings for Texas heat, cold snaps, and hail; tracker and module specs validated for regional wind loads and storm exposure