BrightSource gets prelim nod for 250-MW solar tower in California

Sep 15, 2014 - The California Energy Commission on Friday granted a preliminary approval to BrightSource Energy Inc for half of the 500-MW Palen concentrating solar power (CSP) project.

More specifically, the permit is for the scheme’s first 250-MW solar tower at the Department of Interior Solar Energy Zone in Riverside County. A final decision for that portion of the project will be made on October 29.

BrightSource and its project partner Spanish Abengoa (MCE:ABG) will seek approval for the second tower later on. Their plan is to add energy storage capacity to that phase.

The California Energy Commission noted in its statement that the preliminary permit had been issued despite the project’s "significant unmitigated impacts to biological, cultural, and visual resources” as its benefits outweigh the negative effects. The Commission previously objected to the scheme but BrightSource managed to tip the scales in its favour after changing its plan to proceed with the first tower only. Delaying the second tower will, according to the Commission, lower the installation’s immediate environmental impacts by half and will enable testing mitigation strategies.

The USD-2-billion (EUR 1.5bn) Palen project was initially a consented parabolic-trough scheme, owned by US firm Solar Millenium. BrightSource acquired it after the Millenium went bankrupt and in December 2012 filed an amendment to the existing approval to convert the plan to solar power tower technology. Abengoa joined later as project partner. Construction works for the first tower are expected to last a little more than two years.

BrightSource is also developing the 540-MW Sonoran West solar tower project in California but its application is presently put on hold. If the energy commission finalises Palen's approval, the review process for the other project is likely to commence soon after.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.771)

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