Utility eyes 500 megawatts of new solar power

The utility company NRG Energy Inc. plans to use eSolar’s technology to develop solar thermal plants in California and elsewhere in the American Southwest with a total capacity of 500 megawatts.

At peak capacity, that would be enough to provide energy to more than 400,000 homes, according to eSolar.

The first plant is expected to begin operations in 2011.

In all, NRG is investing some $10 million (US) in equity and development rights for the projects.

“This is NRG’s first venture into solar power and it brings an exceptionally important component to the low- and no-carbon focus of our RepoweringNRG program,” said Michael Liebelson, NRG’s chief development officer for low-carbon technology. “By coupling NRG’s construction capabilities and regional operating expertise with eSolar’s innovative CSP (concentrating solar power) technology, we can advance NRG’s renewable energy portfolio while helping to accelerate development of these important projects on a commercial scale.”