NRG Energy Set to Build the Largest Solar Thermal Plant in the U.S.
NRG Energy has announced its plans to build the America's largest solar thermal plant in New Mexico.
The plant, to be called Suntower, will be a 92 megawatt facility. This will dwarf all other solar thermal facilities; the next largest plant is around 70 mw. Suntower will generate enough electricity to power 74,000 homes. NRG has also secured a twenty year agreement with El Paso Electric Co. to purchase the power generated at the plant.
Suntower will be built on 450 acres in southern New Mexico. It will have a giant field of mirrors which will reflect the sun on to boilers, located on several 180 foot towers. The boilers will then create steam which will, in turn, be used to create electricity.
Construction will begin in 2010, and ENG expects Suntower to be operational by 2011.
Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune: Largest U.S. Solar Plant Planned for New Mexico
Image courtesy of flickr via afloresm
Nathanael Baker is the Managing Editor of EnergyBoom. He has researched and reported on the issues of renewable energy, sustainability, and climate change for over two years. He has provided research to the New York Times and The Economist, as well as being published on different media outlets including, The Energy Collective.
Energy Boom content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be advice regarding the investment merits of, or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of, any security identified on, or linked through, this site.
