The project will consist of 60 SunCatcher dishes and serve as a milestone for the nationwide deployment of the commercial projects previously announced in California and Texas totaling more than 1,600 MW.
The project will be located next to the Agua Fria Generating Station, a power plant owned and operated by SRP in Peoria. The solar plant, which is expected to start construction ground in September 2009, will employ 40 to 50 construction workers.
It is expected to be completed in January 2010 and will be operated by Tessera Solar under a 10-year agreement.
“Partnering with Tessera Solar and Stirling Energy Systems on this project will allow SRP to have first hand experience with this low-water-use solar dish technology,” said SRP Associate General Manager Richard Hayslip. “It’s our belief that supporting emerging renewable-energy technologies will help further the advancement of solar energy while creating green jobs, economic development opportunities and clean energy for SRP and our customers.”
“This commercial-scale reference plant, with our partner SRP, is an essential step for the future development, construction and operation of our large-scale power plants breaking ground in 2010,” said Tessera Solar Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Lukefahr. “We’re pleased that SRP, a respected utility committed to sustainable energy, chose this technology to expand its renewable-energy offerings to its customers.”
Tessera Solar will lease the land from SRP, which will purchase the solar energy generated at the site. The plant will help fulfill SRP’s sustainable portfolio goal set by its publicly elected board of directors, which calls for the utility to meet 15% of its retail energy needs with sustainable energy by 2025.
In addition, the 1.5 MW plant will allow SRP to have first-hand experience with this technology, its performance and integration into the grid.
The SunCatcher system uses precision mirrors attached to a parabolic dish to concentrate the sun’s energy onto a high-efficiency Stirling Engine. Each dish can generate up to 25,000 watts of power. The SunCatcher requires no water for heating or cooling and a minimal amount of water is required to wash the mirrors and for on-site personnel.
Designed and engineered in the US, the SunCatcher utilizes automotive supply chain manufacturing techniques for high-volume production through an assembly line process. More than 90% of th SunCatcher components will be manufactured in North America, creating thousands of new jobs.
“We’re pleased to partner with SRP and the City of Peoria to deploy our SunCatcher technology here in our home state of Arizona in advance of our utility-scale deployments in 2010,” said SES CEO Steve Cowman. “We considered several sites across the Southwest, but our future growth plans and the plant’s proximity to our headquarters will allow us the opportunity to showcase the SunCatcher to our stakeholders.”
The City of Peoria is committed to responsibly building a vibrant local economy that connects smart growth and quality of life to the city’s diverse natural assets.
