HUGE CALIF SOLAR POWER APPROVED

Palen Solar Power Project Achieves License from California Energy Commission; Construction of Solar Trust of America’s 500 MW Facility Will Create 1,100 Local Jobs
December 15, 2010 (Solar Trust)

"Solar Trust of America, LLC…subsidiary, Solar Millennium, LLC, has secured a final decision from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for its 500 Megawatt (MW) Palen Solar Power Project…Located in Riverside County, California, the Palen Solar Power Project facility will house two power plants each generating 250 MW of nominal capacity. Together these plants will provide enough electricity to power up to 150,000 homes each year…

"…[The project will] advance the State’s renewable energy goals… and provide an annual economic impact of approximately $270 million during the construction period…"

The Palen solar power plant will use Solar Millenium's trough technology (click to enlarge)

"Construction is expected to create approximately 1,100 direct jobs in Southern California, thousands of indirect supply chain jobs in related industries throughout the United States, and 130 long-term operational and maintenance jobs at the facility itself once it is completed.

"The Palen Solar Power Project is expected to remove approximately one-half megaton of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which will provide a substantial environmental benefit. It will also employ dry-cooling technology which will enable it to use approximately 90 percent less water than comparable wet-cooled facilities…"

The Solar Millenium solar power plant technology can incorporate energy storage (click to enlarge)

"For the Palen Solar Power Project, Solar Millennium, LLC has also applied to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a 5,200 -acre Right-of Way (ROW)…where Solar Trust of America is constructing the 1,000 MW Blythe Solar Power Project, the world’s largest solar thermal power plant. Pending BLM’s decision on the ROW Grant Application, expected in Spring 2011, the Palen project will add to Solar Trust of America’s California portfolio of approved solar thermal projects totaling 1,500 MW…

"Solar thermal power plants generate electricity by converting solar radiation into heat energy. In a parabolic trough power plant, trough-shaped mirrors concentrate the solar radiation onto a pipe in the focal line of the collector. Its absorption heats a fluid medium in the pipe, and generates steam in the power block through a heat exchanger. As in conventional power plants, the steam powers a turbine to generate electricity. By integrating thermal storage, electricity can be supplied on demand, even after sunset…"