Solar Lattice

Concept

Power purchase agreement

ID
concept:power-purchase-agreement
IRI
https://solarlattice.org/kb/concept/power-purchase-agreement
Status
active
Also known as
PPA
Category
Market
Concept kind
finance

A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a contract to sell the electricity from a solar project at a negotiated rate over a fixed period of time. The PPA sets how much the offtaker pays the project company for each unit of energy, so it is the project's source of revenue. A third-party developer usually finances, builds, owns and runs the system, then sells the power to the site host in a behind-the-meter retail deal, or to a utility in a wholesale deal. For homeowners, a PPA is similar to a lease, but the customer pays for the electricity the system actually produces instead of a flat monthly fee. PPA terms usually run 20 to 25 years. Having a PPA in place is a key early requirement for showing that a utility-scale project is viable. The EPC contractor has to design and build the plant to meet the technical conditions in the PPA and in the grid connection agreement. A battery storage system can also be paid for by embedding it in a PPA.

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Claims

related_to

c1 drafted · lead Behind-the-meter system

When the PPA is a behind-the-meter retail sale, the contract is usually between the third-party developer and the site host.

c2 drafted · lead Front-of-the-meter system

In wholesale sales the PPA is signed directly with an electric utility acting as the offtaker.

c3 drafted · lead US federal investment tax credit

Third-party developers using PPAs can take federal tax credits, and the benefit can reach public entities through a lower PPA price.

review note: support check: partial - Passage says developers use federal tax credits and public entities benefit via low PPA price, but it doesn't name the ITC specifically.

c4 drafted · lead Battery energy storage system

One recommended contract structure for storage is to embed it in a PPA.

c5 drafted · lead India proposed

In India, PPAs under the MNRE generation-based incentive policy are signed with state utilities. Under the draft National Solar Mission guidelines, NVVN signs for projects above 5MW.

c6 drafted · lead SMA

SMA offers PPAs through its SMA Join product, available only in German.

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