Beacon Solar Energy Project Awaits Final Approval

A recent session of the California Energy Commission has approved the installation of a solar power plant planned in the western Mojave Desert of California. The presiding member of the session made his recommendations stating that the proposals of the plant comply with all the stipulated regulations and do not cause major impact on the environment.

Beacon Solar Energy is planning to construct a plant to produce 250 MW of electrical energy, and intends to use concentrated solar thermal technology in the installations built in 2012 acres of land that is located about 20 miles north of Edwards Air Force Base and 4 miles north-northwest of California City in Kern County. The company anticipates completing the construction of the plant in 25 months from the date of receiving the license.

As per the information available about the project on NextEra's website, the plant will use solar thermal technology to reflect the concentrated sun rays utilizing parabolic mirrors over synthetic oil drum to heat it which in turn will heat the water to produce steam to run the generators and produce electric power. For the purpose of reducing the initial start up the company is planning to install two supplementary natural gas fired boilers which will prevent the freezing of oil during the winter season.

The plant is planning to use 1,400 acre-feet per year of recycled water from Rosamond Community Sanitary District, or from California City for cooling purposes and 153 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the nearby wells for washing the parabolic mirrors and for employee usage.

The company has plans to use a high voltage power line that runs along the state route 14 and a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power substation located 1.5 miles from the site for future grid connectivity options.