The largest concentrated solar power (CSP) facility in the world is set to be constructed in California, USA, after the state's Energy Commission gave its approval to the project.
The proposed 1 GW Blythe solar power project is being developed by Solar Millennium LLC and is the third project approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) in as many weeks.
A further six solar energy projects representing over 2.5 GW of capacity are awaiting approval by the CEC before the end of 2010 in order to qualify for federal stimulus funding.
The Blythe project will consist of four 250 MW CSP plants based on parabolic trough technology and will use air to cool the steam cycle in order to reduce water usage. Construction of the first two plants is due to begin at the end of 2010 after final consents are received from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Financing for the first two plants is expected to close in the autumn and will include loan guarantees and grants from the US government. “The investment volumes of more than $1 billion per plant make this one of the largest infrastructure projects in the US at the moment,” said Thomas Meyer, spokesman for Solar Millennium's executive board.
The first two plants should be operational by 2013 and 2014 and will sell their output to Southern California Edison for a 20-year period.
Other projects approved by the CEC in recent weeks are the 250 MW Beacon project and the 250 MW Abengoa Mojave solar project. These and other proposed solar projects will help California to achieve its renewable energy targets.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I applaud the California Energy Commission's decision to approve the construction of the Blythe Solar Power Project - the world's largest - and am excited to see other solar projects move forward. Projects like this need our immediate attention, as solar and renewable power are the future of the California economy.”
Linkedin
