SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, and Xcel Energy’s regional operating company, Southwestern Public Service Company, have signed a deal for setting up five photovoltaic solar installations in New Mexico that will total 50MW in generation capacity.

The five 10MW sites, to be situated in Lea and Eddy counties in southeastern New Mexico, will comprise a utility-scale, ground-mount system that will be totally operational by the end of 2011. In total, the power stations will successfully generate much power for more than 10,000 homes in its first full year of operation.

The project will allow Xcel Energy to fulfill New Mexico’s renewable portfolio standard, which needs that regulated electric utilities meet 15 percent of their electricity needs by 2015, and 20 percent demand in 2020.

According to recent news, the five plants will be built, financed and maintained by SunEdison, under a 20-year solar power services agreement (SPSA) with Xcel Energy, which will acquire the solar power generated by the plant.

This project eclipses the 8.22MW (DC) solar power system SunEdison generated for Xcel Energy in Alamosa, Colorado in December 2007.