One of the biggest solar power plant projects has been taken on by Google, to be developed by BrightSource Energy in Mojave Desert in California. Google invested $168 million to complete the project that would generate 392 megawatts (MW) of clean solar energy to supply power to 85,000 homes yearly. Google said this brings the company’s total investment in clean energy projects to $250 million. Completion is expected by 2013.
Google’s green operations director Rick Needham said the project is the equivalent of taking 90,000 cars off the road over the lifetime of the plant seen to be over 25 years. He said, the investment makes business sense and will help ensure that one of the world’s largest solar energy projects is completed.
Incidentally, the $1.6 billion loan guarantees for Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating System is already finalized by the US Department of Energy to be built by Bechtel. Its construction has already started in October, last year. Secretary Steven Chu said this will create over 1,000 jobs in California while laying the foundation for thousands more clean energy jobs across the country in the future. Through the loan program, the department supports some of the largest, most innovative clean energy projects in the world that would help the country to out-compete and out-innovate global competitors to win the future.
The White House has been urging for green growth investments not only to create new job sources but also to stay ahead of China who is also keen to lead in the said endeavor. Over 173,000 dual-heliostats mirrors will be used in the Ivanpah project to direct sun rays onto a solar receiver atop a tower. Steam generated by the solar receiver spins a turbine and generator thus producing electricity. Upon completion, the Ivanpah Power Tower will be 450 feet (137 meters) tall.
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