Plans underway to build large solar thermal plant
A new solar thermal power plant will be providing energy to the Valley soon, thanks to a consortium of energy companies including SRP.
The new consortium is reviewing proposals for a new plant that would harness the energy of the sun to produce 250 MW of electricity. It would be constructed in Arizona or Nevada, making it the largest solar power plant in either state.
How the plant would work
Solar thermal plants work a little differently than your average photovoltaic energy cell which takes the sun's heat and light and converts it directly into energy. Typically, these kinds of plants work in two ways:
A field of mirrors reflect sunlight to a central receiving tower. There, the energy heats a molten nitrate salt, and that heat is used to create steam and thus, electricity.- Another method is to have a field of parabolic mirrors take the sun's light and reflect it in a concentrated manner towards a glass tube containing a liquid that can be super heated to a high degree. That liquid is then funneled into a boiler system that heats water into steam. That steam is then used to spin a turbine and generate electricity.
Partners in the project
The Southwest Energy Service Provider's Consortium for Solar Development (aka Joint Development Group) was formed with the goals of reducing solar energy costs and increasing efficiency through economies of scale. Salt River Project is a member of the group, along with Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Arizona Public Service, Southern California Public Power Authority, Tucson Electric Power and Xcel Energy.
