the film forum library tutorial contact

Solar Energy Projects Receive License Approvals by PennWell Power-Gen Worldwide, September 30, 2010

The California Energy Commission approved licenses for two more solar power projects.

The CEC approved the licenses for the 250 MW Genesis and the 709 MW Imperial Valley projects as part of the so-called "fast-track" partnership between the CEC and the Department of the Interior.

The Genesis project will use parabolic trough technology where parabolic mirrors are used to heat a transfer fluid that is then used to generate steam. Electricity is produced from the steam expanding through steam turbine generators.

The Imperial Valley Solar Project will use solar dish Stirling systems consisting of a solar receiver heat exchanger and a closed-cycle, high-efficiency engine designed to convert solar power to rotary power, then driving an electrical generator to produce electricity.

Both projects still require decisions from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to be built on federal public lands. Those decisions are scheduled for October.

Nine large-scale solar projects have either received approval from the CEC or are currently under review. Along with Genesis and Imperial Valley, the commission has also approved the 250 MW Beacon Solar, the 250 MW Abengoa Mojave, the 1,000 MW Blythe and the 370 MW Ivanpah. The 663.5 MW Calico Solar project was given a recommended license approval and is scheduled to go before the full commission on October 28.

The two remaining projects, the 500 MW Palen and the 150 MW Rice Solar, are still under review.

In October 2009, California was the first state to sign a memo of understanding with the DOI to develop long-term renewable energy plans through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30 percent federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.