World’s largest solar power deal is signed

According to the San Francisco Chronicle , Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) and BrightSource Energy

of Oakland signed

an agreement on what may be the world’s largest solar deal. The deal will create

a string of seven solar power plants, which will generate enough electricity for

530,000 homes. California

law requires the state’s electrical utilities to get 20% of their power

from renewable sources by the end of 2010.

BrightSource Energy of Oakland will build the plants in the Southern

California desert and sell the power to PG&E. Fields of

mirrors at each plant will focus sunlight on centralized towers, boiling water

within the towers, creating steam, and turning turbines. The first plant could

open in 2012 at the Ivanpah dry lake bed in San Bernardino County.

PG&E and BrightSource already have a history. Last year,

PG&E agreed to buy as much as 900 MW from three solar power plants

BrightSource planned to build. The deal announced Wednesday greatly expands

that agreement, with PG&E potentially buying 1,310 MW.

Earlier this year, the 5-year-old company signed an

agreement to supply 1,300 MW of electricity to Southern California

Edison in what was then considered the world’s largest solar deal. The new

PG&E agreement just barely tops it.

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