TOMORROW'S SUN ON YESTERDAY'S WASTE

Solar power plant on landfill could benefit thousands
Scott Wong, September 20, 2009 (The Arizona Republic)

"…Tessera Solar, which has offices in Scottsdale, has proposed a privately funded project using its solar-thermal dish technology known as SunCatcher [at Phoenix's only active landfill]…Its technology uses the sun's rays to heat up hydrogen, which in turn powers an engine and creates electricity.

"Tessera has already partnered with the Salt River Project on Maricopa Solar LLC, a 1.5-megawatt project in Peoria that will have 60 dishes running by January…The Phoenix project, to be located off Arizona 85 in Buckeye, calls for 7,000 SunCatcher dishes, each 38 feet wide by 40 feet tall…The project would generate 175 megawatts, enough to power about 27,000 Valley homes…"

Tessara's remarkable, futuristic Stirling Energy System solar power plant. An array of them will be positioned on a Phoenix landfill. (click to enlarge)

"Seeking to boost the Valley's solar economy and cut its greenhouse-gas emissions, Phoenix said earlier this year that it planned to lease land it owns in Buckeye for a solar-power plant…The plant would sit on a vacant 1,200-acre parcel reserved for future landfill use and could operate for up to 30 years.

"City officials estimate about $1 billion in private investment would be required to build the plant…A review panel, composed of Phoenix staffers, a Buckeye official, and business community representatives, evaluated proposals submitted…"

Schematic of the Tessara/Stirling solar device. Its minimal water requirements may have given it an edge in the competition. (click to enlarge)

"A City Council subcommittee will…[either] recommend full council approval to begin negotiating with Tessera, or to negotiate simultaneously with Tessera and second-ranked Johnson Controls Inc…[which] proposed a plant powered by highly efficient photovoltaic or solar panels…Both firms said they planned to incorporate landfill gas into their project, taking advantage of the nearby city dump and the gas pipeline that passes through the property…

"The full council is set to vote on the proposal in October, with contract negotiations with the winning bidder expected to run through early 2010…While the bidder would own the plant, Phoenix is seeking an agreement to share revenue from energy production…The partnership could allow the city to be a part owner of the plant or the renewable-energy credits that will be sold to a utility provider like SRP or APS."