Order focus: PG&E contracts with NextEra, Abengoa for 500MW of solar power

Oct 27, 2009 - Syanne Olson - PV-tech.org

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has inked a deal with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources and Abengoa Solar for a total clean solar power delivery of 500MW. Combined with other solar deals that PG&E has recently signed with independent developers the company has totaled a delivery of 830MW.

NextEra’s planned Genesis Solar Energy Project consists of two 125MW units that will be located on a site managed by the US Bureau of Land Management in Riverside, CA. The first phase of 125MW is scheduled to come on line in 2013, while the project’s second phase of 125MW is expected for 2014. Combined, both phases will produce around 560GWh of energy per year.

Abengoa’s projected 250MW Mojave Solar project at Harper Lake in San Bernardino County, CA, is slated to deliver more than 600GWh of energy per year and be fully operational by late 2013.

"These projects will serve the critical energy needs of our customers without creating heat-trapping gases that harm our environment," said Fong Wan, senior vice president for energy procurement at PG&E. "Projects like these are reinforcing the demonstrated leadership of PG&E and California in clean solar technology."

Both projects will produce renewable energy for PG&E’s electric customers using curved mirrors in the shape of troughs, which will focus solar energy onto fluid filled tubes extending the length of each trough. The heated fluid will be utilized to create steam for generating electricity.