BIG MOVE INTO SOLAR

FPL Group is putting a huge investment into the development of large scale solar thermal energy plants. The solar thermal conversion of solar light and heat to steam generation means the system can store steam energy, conquering solar’s intermittency, one of the biggest barriers to its practical application. David Mills, the system’s designer, contends a 145 square kilometer section of land set up with solar thermal generation (less than the amount of land currently mined for coal) would supply all US electricity needs.

FPL Group to put $2.4B toward solar energy
September 26, 2007 (South Florida Business Journal via Yahoo Finance)
and
Turning sun’s rays into gold
Tyler Hamilton, October 1, 2007 (The Toronto Star)

WHO
FPL Group, Ausra (David Mills, founder & chief science officer), Bill Clinton & Florida Governor Bill Crist

A section of a solar thermal field showing the parabolic mirrors and the tubes running through.

WHAT
Announced at last week’s annual Clinton Global Initiative conclave, FPL Group – a major player in US wind energy – will make a big move into the development of solar energy, investing $1.5 billion in solar thermal generating facilities designed by Ausra.

WHEN
FPL’s investment move will be over the next 7 years.

WHERE
- FPL Group is based in Juno Beach, Florida. Its 1st solar thermal plant will be a Florida Power & Light 10 megawatt project. Plans call for it to be expanded to 300 megawatts over time.
- Ausra is based in Palo Alto, CA.

WHY
- FPL Group will also invest $500 million in a smart network, designed to enhance energy management.
- FPL Energy, a division of the company, will develop consumer education materials expected to generate $400 million in revenues over 5 years, which will be reinvested in renewable energies.
- The solar thermal system FPL will use is designed by Ausra’s David Mills. Mills claims his plants will generated solar energy at less than 10c/kilowatt-hour, working his way to 7c/kilowatt-hour.
- Solar thermal installations are typically laid out in areas of intense sun and use parabolic mirror systems to focus the enormous heat on tubes carrying liquid to drive a steam generator.

Already a major player in US wind energy, FPL is now making its move in solar. Watch it grow. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Mills: "This is the most exciting time in my career…Better late than never…We're considering many projects in many states at the moment, and all of them are feasible…The amount of area we require to generate all of the United States' electricity is 145 kilometres by 145 kilometres…It's also very small compared to the area of desert that's available…"