Originally published October 15 2005
San Diego power company signs 20-year agreement to receive solar thermal power
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy News, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) recently signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Stirling Energy Systems for 300 megawatts of solar thermal power, which will be generated by solar power receivers in California's Imperial Valley
San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) announced on September 7th that it has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Stirling Energy Systems for 300 megawatts of solar power, to be generated by Stirling solar dishes in a three-square-mile array in California's Imperial Valley.
The installation, to be called "SES Solar 2," will require new transmission lines to carry the power to SDG&E customers.
SDG&E also has options for another 600 megawatts of solar thermal power that could be built in two future phases of the solar power project.
Stirling solar dish technology converts solar thermal energy to electricity by using a dish-shaped array of mirrors to focus the sun's rays on the receiver end of a Stirling engine.
The internal side of the receiver then heats hydrogen gas, causing it to expand.
The expanding gas creates pressure that drives a piston, which turns a small electricity generator.
To learn more about the technology, see the SunLab Web site.
The announcement is the second in as many months for Stirling Energy Systems, which could quickly become the leading source of solar power in the United States.
In early August, Southern California Edison signed a similar agreement with the company for 500 megawatts of solar power, with an option to expand the project to 850 megawatts.
See the article from the August 17th edition of this newsletter.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml