BrightSource Energy Signs Record Solar Thermal Power Deal

BrightSource Energy has much to be proud of lately.  They were the focus of  an article on Solar Thermal Energy in the June 4th print edition of The Economist magazine.  BrightSource has also entered into a series of contracts with California based Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to supply 1,310 MW of solar thermal power beginning in 2012.

BrightSource will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow. All seven projects are expected to produce 3,666 gigawatt-hours of power each year, equal to the annual consumption of about 530,000 average homes. The first of these solar power plants, sized at 110 MW and located in Ivanpah, Calif., is contracted to begin operation in 2012. 

BrightSource Energy  combines nearly three decades of experience designing, building and operating the world’s largest solar energy plants .  The company now has contracted to sell more than 2,600 megawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary solar thermal technology. BrightSource Energy’s solar plants are designed to minimize their impact on the environment and help customers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company with operations in the United States and Israel.

The Economist article did a great job in educating its readers about the benefits and potential of  solar thermal power.  Here are a few highlights:

• Solar Thermal projects  are typically built on a larger scale than PV solar projects, and as such have lower  costs.
• Compared to other renewable sources of energy, they are best able to match a utility’s electrical load.
• Solar Thermal  works best when the weather is hottest which is also when demand is at its peak due to air conditioning requirements.
• The heat generated can be stored, so that output of solar thermal systesm does not fluctuate as much as that of PV solar systems.
• Solar Thermal systems use a turbine to generate electricity from heat, therefore most can be easily supplemented with natural gas boilers.
• Mark Mehos of the United States National Renewable Energy Lab, was quoted as saying that solar thermal power could in theory generate 11,000 GW in the US Soutwest – that is about ten times America’s existing power-generation capacity.

Solar Thermal power is starting to receive  the attention it deserves – its not just for water heaters anymore!

Tags: BrightSource Energy, California, Company News, concentrated solar, new project

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