Feb 24 2010
Chevron Corp.’s subsidiary, Chevron Mining Inc. (CMI), announced that its sister company, Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), will be constructing a 1-MW concentrating photovoltaic solar plant at its molybdenum mine’s tailing site located in Questa, New Mexico.
Fred Nelson, CMI president, said the company is pleased with the support extended for this project from federal agencies, state and local community. Nelson further said that the company is delighted to implant this project that will utilize the substantial solar resources in Questa while helping to provide the local community with renewable energy.
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will purchase the generated electricity from this project through a power purchase contract. The construction on the project is scheduled to start in 2010 spring and will be completed by the same year-end.
Luis Reyes, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, said the company is pleased to partner with Chevron in this project and hopes to have a valuable experience that can be used later.
This project comprises about 175 solar panels sited on approximately 20 acres of the tailing site of the Questa Mine. Des King, CTV president, said this project will be one of the largest CPV installations in the world and the largest in the U.S. King further said that the company will through this project evaluate the benefits of CPV technology and decide on its implementation at Chevron’s other properties and operations.
In the concentrating photovoltaic technology, lenses are used to focus the sunlight on the layers of high-efficiency solar cells. This technology is suited to areas where solar radiation is high such as New Mexico. The concentrating photovoltaic system will be provided by Concentrix Solar GmbH.
Source: http://www.chevron.com