PGandE and NRG Energy collaborate on 92 MW solar thermal power

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has entered into an agreement with Alpine SunTower, LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy Inc for 92 megawatts (MW) of renewable, solar thermal power

The Alpine SunTower project features eSolar’s modular, scalable solar thermal technology and is scheduled for completion in 2012. The project will be located near Lancaster, California, USA, and will produce approximately 192 GWh renewable electricity each year.

The project is part of eSolar and NRG’s recently announced plans to develop up to 500 MW of solar thermal power in California and across the Southwestern United States.

eSolar’s concentrating solar power (CSP) projects feature a combination of optics and software in a pre-fabricated form factor for cost-effective scalability. Its scalable plants will be built in 46 MW unit solutions, each of which requires one quarter square mile of land.