News Archives - 2007

December 7, 2007

Southwestern Energy Service Providers Work Together to Get Large-Scale Solar Project Built

A multi-state consortium of southwestern energy service providers is issusing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a utility-scale concentrating solar power plant. The plant would be owned by a third party, with consortium members each signing long-term purchase power agreements. The plant, with size, design, and location to be determined by the RFP submissions, is expected to produce 250 megawatts and be located in either Arizona or Nevada.

December 4, 2007

Energy Lab Sets Aggressive Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent from 2005 to 2009. The new goal is part of NREL's participation in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders program.

November 29, 2007

Assistant Secretary Announces New Solar Initiative

Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, today announced a new solar energy initiative designed to speed adoption of low-cost concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies into the marketplace.

November 8, 2007

Wakonda Technologies is the Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year

A small company commercializing a novel solar energy technology has been named the Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year at the 20th Industry Growth Forum sponsored by NREL.

November 5, 2007

PG&E and Ausra Announce 177 Megawatt Solar Thermal Power Agreement

Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced Nov. 5, 2007, that it has entered into a 177 megawatt solar thermal power purchasing agreement with Austra Inc. The project, to be located in central California, is being developed by Ausra and is expected to begin generating power in 2010.

August 6, 2007

California Utility Agrees to Buy 553 Megawatts of Solar Power

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced on July 25, 2007, that it has agreed to buy power from a 553-megawatt solar thermal power plant to be located in California's Mojave Desert. Solel-MSP-1 plans to build the Mojave Solar Park using its parabolic trough technology.

July 20, 2007

NREL/Boeing Spectrolab Team Wins Research and Development Award

A solar cell produced by Boeing Spectrolab under a subcontract with NREL is among this year’s most significant innovations, as judged by Research & Development Magazine.

May 25, 2007

NREL Updates National Solar Radiation Database

NREL has updated the National Solar Radiation Database, a planning tool that provides critical information about the amount of solar energy that is available at any given location.

April 3, 2007

European Commission Announces First Commercial Solar Plant

An 11-megawatt, concentrating solar power plant is now in operation in Seville, Spain.