December 15, 2007

Nevada Solar One, Boulder City, Nevada

Dr. Robert Peltier, PE

Development of solar thermal projects in the U.S. was popular in the late 1980s, when nine plants were installed in California’s Mojave Desert. The familiar family of Solar Electric Generating Station (SEGS) projects has a total capacity of 354 MW; the largest two plants, rated at 80 MW each, entered commercial service in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Even though all the SEGS plants are still operating and producing power for the electrical grid at around 99% availability, loss of tax credits, developer financial problems, and changes in the California energy market ended development of solar thermal plants of this design.

 

Lately, a confluence of improved technologies, higher energy prices, and state renewable energy mandates has created a much more favorable climate for solar thermal generation. So solar thermal has risen again—this time thanks to Acciona Energy.

Acciona Energy may be unfamiliar to you unless you’re working in the wind or solar energy business. But the company’s credentials are well established, especially outside the U.S. Its portfolio of 4,690 MW installed in 175 wind farms in 10 countries makes Acciona perhaps the largest wind developer in the world. In May, Acciona Windpower entered the competitive U.S. market when it began construction of a wind turbine manufacturing plant in West Branch, Iowa. The company expects to have the capacity to produce 250 1.5-MW turbines by the end of 2008. Wind is only part of Acciona’s renewables business; solar energy plants, both photovoltaic and solar thermal, also play a major role.

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