US solar EPC Borrego has signed two operations and maintenance contracts with an undisclosed renewable energy operator for a pair of 50MW solar projects under construction in Ohio.
The deals are Borrego’s first utility-scale operations and maintenance contracts, and the two projects’ combined total of 100MW is among some of the largest customer portfolios the team is managing.
The two Ohio projects are scheduled to reach their commercial operation dates in 2023, at which point Borrego O&M will begin operating the plants.
Under the terms of the contracts, Borrego will provide preventative and corrective maintenance to the two projects, with an unlimited amount of vegetation maintenance as well as aerial thermal inspection services.
Borrego has also included a 98% availability guarantee for five years in conjunction with these services.
As part of Borrego O&M’s expansion into utility-scale projects, the company upgraded its operations centre to be North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliant and will be able to register as a NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection Generator Operator (CIP-GOP).
In addition, Borrego O&M is growing its team with dedicated staff working on its growing utility-scale sector portfolio.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to operate and maintain these utility-scale projects in Ohio. Borrego’s selection by one of the largest renewable IPPs in the world is a testament to the investments we have made in our O&M utility scale team and systems,” said Mike Hall, chief executive officer of Borrego.
“The deals also reflect the recognition by our partners of the benefits of thinking strategically about O&M early in the project life cycle.”