CALIF SOLAR POWER PLANTS GET $100 MIL FUNDING FROM IRELAND

Another announcement about a solar power plant moving toward reality in the deserts of the U.S. southwest. 1750 megawatts! And just in time for Earth Day.

But this is more than just another pretty solar plant. This is something completely different.

The U.S. Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratory has been testing Stirling Energy System’s SunCatcher in New Mexico for years and recently announced the device had set a new record for efficiency. (See STIRLING CONCENTRATOR SETS SOLAR RECORD AT SANDIA).

Now, funded by $100 million dollars of Irish wind energy money (NTR's cash power comes from its sale of Airtricity), the technology will finally get a chance to prove itself on a commercial scale.

If power output is disappointing, the company might be able to sell the devices to a movie maker to use as an army of alien invaders. Good aliens bringing the gift of New Energy, of course. Maybe the movie maker could use oil derricks for the army of evil aliens that the solar devices save us from.

click to enlarge

Solar power developer teams with Irish company on Southern California renewable energy project
April 17, 2008 (AP via International Herald Tribune)
and
NTR PLC To Invest $100 Million In Solar Energy
April 17, 2008 (NTR PLC)
and
Large Scale Solar Generation to Become Reality
April 17, 2008 (Stirling Energy Systems)

WHO
Stirling Energy Systems (SES) Inc. (Bruce Osborn, President and Chief Executive), NTR PLC (Jim Barry, Group Chief Executive)

25 kilowatts per machine. (click to enlarge

WHAT
NTR’s $100 million investment in SES will fund pre-construction costs on two huge new solar power plants. The investment gives NTR controlling interest in SES.

WHEN
The investment was announced April 17. It moves the breakthrough installations a step closer to reality.

SES sees a wide distribution potential. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- The two installations are planned for California’s Mojave Desert (SES Solar 1) and its Imperial Valley (SES Solar 2).
- SES is based in Phoenix, AZ, and Tustin, CA.
- NTR is based in Dublin, Ireland.

WHY
- NTR describes itself as “…a leading international developer and operator in renewable
energy and sustainable waste management…”
- SES has longstanding power purchase agreements with 2 major California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, guaranteeing the sale of all the electricity the installations generate.
- In the first stage, the developers will build a total of 800 megawatts in the 2 locations. The eventual goal is to generate the entire power purchase total of 1750 megawatts (SES Solar 1 will be 850 megawatts and SES Solar 2 will be 900 megawatts).
- Each SunCatcher system generates 25 kilowatts of solar capacity.

A field of solar dreams, a solar power plant. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Jim Barry, Group Chief Executive, NTR: “This is a very exciting investment for NTR…In SES, we have a business with high growth potential and a leading cost position in the fast growing CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) sector. SES’s established presence in California places it at the forefront of solar technology development…The investment supports NTR’s strategy and our commitment to continued investment in renewable energy businesses with strong future growth potential…”
- Bruce Osborn, President and Chief Executive, SES: “SES is now poised to move to the next stage in its commercialisation plan…The investment by NTR will give SES access to the development, commercial and financial expertise required to commercialize the SunCatcher. NTR’s experience and proven commercial track record in the renewables sector make it an ideal partner for SES.”