Power generator FPL Energy has filed an application for certification with the California Energy Commission to construct, own and operate the 250MW Beacon solar energy project in the Mojave Desert.
FPL Energy said that its solar generation strategy centers on utilizing proven and scalable parabolic trough solar thermal technology that has been used commercially for more than 20 years.
FPL Energy has set a goal of adding at least 600MW of new solar by 2015. The company has already identified 1,100MW of new solar sites and has leased, optioned or owns outright a significant amount of land in the west and southwest US.
The power generator expects to begin construction on the project late in 2009 and construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
The proposed Beacon solar energy project will be located on an approximately 2,000-acre site in eastern Kern County, California. The more than 500,000 parabolic mirrors will be assembled in rows to receive and concentrate the solar energy to produce steam for powering a steam turbine generator. The generator will produce electric power for delivery to the nearby electric grid.