 File image: Rice Solar Energy Project |
When completed, SolarReserve's facility will supply approximately 450,000 megawatt hours annually of clean, reliable electricity-enough to power up to 68,000 homes during peak electricity periods-utilizing its innovative energy storage capabilities.
"The California Public Utilities Commission's approval represents an important milestone in bringing non-intermittent renewable energy assets online to meet the state's renewable portfolio standards and green house gas emission reduction targets," said Kevin Smith, SolarReserve's CEO.
"Moving ahead on this project is especially exciting for us given we are a California-based company deploying technology developed here locally and will provide a reliable electricity product to thousands of Californians."
Utilizing an advanced molten salt system technology under exclusive worldwide license to SolarReserve from United Technologies Corporation, the Rice Solar Energy Project has the ability to store 10 hours of solar energy and consequently has the capacity to generate electricity during cloud cover or after the sun has gone down as well as the ability to shift power production to meet peak demand periods.
This energy storage capability provides a stable, reliable electricity product similar to that of conventional fuel-burning power facilities.
What makes the project unique in comparison to most other large scale solar thermal projects in California is that it is located on private, previously disturbed land.
Also, the project will not require supplemental natural gas, with the associated emissions, for periods of cloud cover or start up operations. These attributes have helped the project obtain "fast track" status to move on a priority basis through the California Energy Commission's licensing process. SolarReserve hopes to receive all approvals for the project by the end of the year.
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