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Ausra Inc. announced it is building the first U.S. manufacturing plant for solar thermal power systems in Las Vegas. The 130,000-square-foot, highly automated manufacturing and distribution center will produce the reflectors, towers, absorber tubes and other key components of the company's solar thermal power plants.
"With market-priced solar power, we are entering the Solar Decade, in which massive construction of solar plants will take place."
--Bob Fishman, President and CEO, Ausra
In November 2007, Ausra and California utility PG&E announced a power purchase agreement for a one-square-mile, 177-megawatt (MW) power plant. Ausra's new facility will manufacture the solar field equipment for the PG&E project and for other power projects throughout the southwest. The factory will be capable of making over 700 MW of solar collectors per year and will begin regular operation in April 2008.
"Americans want clean power, and are tired of the market fluctuations, price increases, and pollution from fossil power plants. With market-priced solar power, we are entering the Solar Decade, in which massive construction of solar plants will take place. We are investing now in the systems and capacity to serve that need," said Bob Fishman, president and CEO of Ausra.
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Giulio Negrini
g.negrini@gnpimb.com
I believe the Renewable Portfolio Standards that states like California have will continue to drive renewable purchase commitments which will in turn drive more investment in manufacturing. The next step is to clue the folks in D.C. about this.
Idealy, solar arrays should be sited at or near any fossil fueled power station where the climate is suitable, as even if only a small amount is possible, it can reduce the amount of bleed steam used to preheat water going to the boilers. In this usage, the Solar component takes on nearly the generating efficiency of the power plant, which is probably significantly higher than the Carnot equation would permit for most pure Solar Thermal power stations.
i.e. Add Solar collectors to a conventional power station, and you add possibly as much as twice the generated electricity of per area as a pure solar station.
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