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PG&E Adds 107MW Solar-Hybrid Power to Energy Mix

Posted on: Friday, 13 June 2008, 06:00 CDT

California-based utility Pacific Gas and Electric has entered into two contracts with San Joaquin Solar, a subsidiary of Martifer Renewables Electricity, for a combined 106.8MW of solar thermal-biofuel hybrid power, to continue its program of adding utility-scale solar power to its energy mix.

Located near Coalinga, California, the solar-biofuel projects will deliver a total of 700GWh of annual renewable electricity to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) customers throughout northern and central California.

Martifer's renewable hybrid projects combine solar thermal trough technology and steam turbines powered by biomass fuel to produce hybrid solar-biofuel electricity.

PG&E has said that incorporation of biofuel increases the overall production of renewable power by allowing for around-the-clock production of clean energy, even at night or when sunlight is not at its strongest.

Each hybrid project will require 250,000 tons of biofuel annually, to be supplied from a combination of locally-produced agricultural wastes, green wastes and livestock manure. These projects are expected to begin operation in 2011. The contracts filed with the California Public Utilities Commission are part of PG&E's broader renewable energy portfolio.

Source: Datamonitor

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