Apr 01 2008

PG&E and BrightSource aim high for solar thermal power

We are expanding our push into solar thermal power in a big way today with a series of contracts with BrightSource Energy Inc. for up to 900 megawatts from plants to be built by BrightSource in California's Mojave Desert. The first three contracts are for a total of 500 megawatts from three power stations and two contracts for options for 400 more megawatts.

At 900 megawatts, this would be one of the biggest solar power deals anywhere and another step by PG&E to bulk up our supplies of renewable energy.

The first BrightSource solar thermal plant, a 100-megawatt plant, will be constructed at Ivanpah in San Bernardino County and in operation in late 2010-early 2011 depending on permitting and infrastructure. It will generate 246,000 megawatts hours of renewable power per year. A second plant at Ivanpah will generate 200 megawatts, and subsequent plants are slated for Broadwell Dry Lake, also in San Bernardino County.

"Solar thermal energy is an especially attractive renewable power source because it is available when needed most in California - during the peak mid-day summer period," said Fong Wan, vice president of energy procurement at PG&E. "Through these agreements with BrightSource, we continue to broaden our renewable energy portfolio and provide our customers with some of the cleanest energy in the nation."

A PG&E-BrightSource memorandum of agreement was first announced in August 2006 and called for 500 megawatts. The final agreement expanded the original to five separate power-purchase agreements for 900 megawatts. We also have power purchase agreements for solar electricity with Israel's Solel and Australia's Ausra.

Today's news also comes after announcements last week that Southern California Edison and FPL Energy each plan to develop 250 megawatts of solar power - SCE installing solar panels on commercial roofs in Southern California's Inland Empire and FPL Energy developing solar thermal electricity in the Mojave Desert.

 An existing transmission line will need to be rebuilt to a high capacity for BrightSource's  Ivanpah site. The California Independent System Operator, the main grid manager for California, also is assessing transmission improvements for the Broadwell stations.

Here's more information about solar thermal energy. 

Posted by: Leonard Anderson | Comments (0) digg delicioussend to a friendprint entry

 

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Energy , Environment , Partners , Solar , Transmission

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