Dec 24 2009
SolarReserve and Pacific Gas and Electric Company have entered into a solar power sale agreement. Solar power generated in the SolarReserve’s 150-megawatt Rice Solar Energy Project will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The project will be located about 30 miles northwest of Blythe city in eastern Riverside County, California. The Rice project features groundbreaking energy storage capabilities and will be able to supply about 450,000 megawatt hours per annum. It is enough to power about 68,000 homes during peak demand periods.
SolarReserve has acquired worldwide license for a groundbreaking energy storage technology from United Technologies Corporation (UTC). This innovative modern salt system will be utilized by Rice project to supply electricity to meet consumers’ demand during peak electricity periods even if the sun is not shining and during nights.
Kevin Smith, SolarReserve’s Chief Executive Officer, said the company is delighted to have entered into sale agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company for this important project. Kevin Smith commented that the company has taken utmost care to ensure that the project does not impact local resources and that is why the project is located on a privately-owned land. The land was once used as an air field. In addition, to minimize the water requirements for the project, a dry cooling system will be utilized. Kevin Smith further said that the company is waiting to work with federal and local regulators in the permitting process for this important solar project.
The project is expected to create several thousand indirect jobs in the region through several service providers and suppliers besides providing direct employment. It will also support SolarReserve’s suppliers’ engineering, design and development staff.
Source: www.SolarReserve.com