Large solar mega power plants are being put up in all parts of the world. There are many of these high output plants that are being built by various governments, towns, individuals that will produce enough power to really make a difference on local power usage in their areas. And as you may think, while it makes cheap power, making the plant itself isn’t cheap. Below are some of the big projects that are being put up around the world.
Gila Bend - Arizona
Output: - 280Mw
Projected cost: - $1 billion
Expected Completion date: - 2011
70 miles outside of Pheonix Arizona, Abengoa Solar, along with Airizona Public Service Company (APS) are developing a solar power plant that will cover 1900 acres called Solana (meaning ’sunny place’). The plant will depend on a solar trough configuration that uses parabolic mirrors that can track the sun’s path, which will then heat tubes of fluid to about 700 deg. f. The fluid heats water which turns to steam and the steam in spin up steam turbines to generate electricity.
APS has been contracted to buy power from Solana for the next 30 years and will use that solar generated power to power about 70,000 homes in Arizona.
Mojave Desert - Southern California
Output: - 500 - 800 mw
Projected cost: - Undisclosed
Expected Completion date: - 2011
cSouthern California is taking great strides to switch over to solar power to meet energy needs in that region of the state. In the Mojave Desert, Stirling Energy Systems along with Southern California Edison are currently developing a 4500 acre thermal solar power generating station. This system uses 40′ tall parabolic mirrors to focus the heat from the sun onto Stirling engines that are filled with hydrogen. When the hydrogen expands from the heat, then cools when it cycles through the Stirling engine, locomotion is created by the stirling engine, which is connected to an electricy generator and creates power. Stirling is also planning on a 300mw site in Imperial Valley California later this year.
Deming, New Mexico
Output - 300Mw
Projected Cost - $1.6 billion
Expected Completion Date - 2011
In the desert 230 miles southwest of Albuquerque, New Solar Ventures is creating a 300Mw solar energy plant that will feed 240,000. This will actually be a ‘one stop shop’ of sorts, not only building the huge solar energy plant but also a $650 million dollar factor for producing solar panels that use a special patented technology.
Ashalim, Israel
Output: - 250Mw
Projected cost: - $600 - $700 million
Expected Completion date: - Unknown
The Israeli government is expecting this future 1000 acre site in the centreal of the Negev Desert to be a part of their push to make sure 5% of Israel’s power comes from the sun by 2016. For security reasons, the plant is located about 19 miles from the Egyptian border, and 34 miles southeast of Gaza, out of range of Palestinan rocket attacks. Currently Israel is fielding offers from Australian, Israeli and Spanish companies interested in taking on the project.
Mildura Australia
Output - 154Mw
Projected Cost - $270 million
Expected Completion Date - Completion in 2013, power generation to start in 2010
TRUenergy, based out of Hong Kong, is set to us technology, developed by Solar Systems of Melbourne to create Australias largest solar project to date. Mirror arrays that will concentrate light on PV panels will help reduce the number os PV panels actually needed for the project, and by doing so, also reduces the cost. The Mildura facility is expected to generate power for 45,000 homes. While this is a large plant, it will only account for 0.1 percent of Australia’s power requirements
Tres Cantos, Spain
Output: - 300Mw (expanded from current 55)
Projected cost: - $390 million - $470 million
Expected Completion date: - 2010
The European headquarters of BP have annouced the expansion of the solar plant in Tres Cantos. The technology used will take advantage of high-quality antireflectie materials coated on solar cells and silver paste screen printed on front and back to improve efficiency. BP expects to sell its energy back to the national grid at 575% of the cost of production and has entered into a 25 year contract to do so with the Spanis government. Tata BP Solar (a joint owned company between Tata power co. in India and BP solar) is creating a similar plant in Bangalore India and is expected to produce 300Mw of power.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
