Solar Energy from Mojave Desert Project Bought by PG&E

July 27th, 2007 by Steve Evans

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will buy the output from a 6,000-acre solar power project that will provide enough electricity for 400,000 homes.

Solel Solar Systems of Israel is building the 553-megawatt Mojave Solar Park in California’s Mojave Desert. It currently generates 345 megawatts of electricity and will be fully operational in 2011. It will cover 9 square miles and use 1.2 mirrors and 317 miles of vacuum tubing to capture the desert sun’s heat.

PG&E and Solel-MSP-1 LLC, a subsidiary of Solel Solar Systems, filed the agreement July 25 with the California Public Utility Commission. It is part of San Francisco-based PG&E’s plan to supply 20 percent of its customers’ electricity with power generated by renewable energy. Currently, that figure stands at 12 percent. More…