Search sponsor
BrightSource Energy, whose solar thermal power tower technology can be found at the Ivanpah solar power facility, Nevada, USA, has announced that it has raised more than US$80 million in additional equity financing. This brings BrightSource’s total equity financing to more than US$615 million and positions the company for significant international growth.
Alstom and VantagePoint Capital Partners lead the round. Additional investors include DFJ, CalSTRS, DBL Investors, Goldman Sachs, Chevron Technology Ventures and BP Ventures among others.
Last year, Alstom invested a US$75 million in BrightSource Energy, adding to its original commitment of US$55 million in May 2010.
Jérôme Pécresse, Alstom Renewable Power president, said: “Strengthening our partnership with BrightSource Energy enhances our development towards providing fully integrated solar thermal power plants. This new investment is a further step in our commitment to the solar thermal power market, and paves the way to provide cost-efficient and reliable carbon free power to our customers.
“This reinforces solar thermal power’s position at the heart of Alstom’s strategy providing leading renewable power solutions spanning hydro, wind, geothermal, ocean and biomass.”
As part of the financing round, BrightSource and Alstom have expanded geographic partnerships to build solar thermal power plants in India and Australia. In October 2010, the companies announced partnerships in the Mediterranean Ring and Africa. The companies are also collaborating on a series of solar research and development activities focused on thermal storage and hybridization with fossil fuels.
BrightSource Energy operates a 6MW thermal demonstration facility in Israel’s Negev Desert and a 29MW thermal facility for Chevron Corp. in Coalinga, California.
BrightSource is constructing the 377MW (net) Ivanpah solar project in partnership with NRG Energy and Google. Ivanpah is more than 60% complete and due to provide clean, reliable energy to over 140,000 California homes by the end of 2013. The company’s next two projects, the 500MW Rio Mesa and 500MW Hidden Hills projects, are currently under review by the California Energy Commission. The company expects to receive a permitting decision in 2013.
Stephan Dolezalek, managing director at VantagePoint, said: “With its Ivanpah plant nearing completion, BrightSource is demonstrating the important role that large scale solar thermal power will play in providing clean, cost-effective and reliable power to the American grid."
Dolezalek added: “BrightSource’s unique technology combines the scale, robustness and stability of conventional power plants with the attractive low-carbon profile of using a solar feedstock. In addition, the Company's model of working closely with global partners including Alstom, Bechtel, NRG, Google and Chevron is how we see the technology of energy evolving."
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy, including both concentrated solar thermal power and photovoltaics could account for 25% of global electricity by 2050 and cover a third of global energy demand after 2060. The IEA states that concentrating solar thermal power alone could supply 11.3% of the world’s electricity by 2050.
In a report by Frost & Sullivan, the market research company believes that the CSP market in Europe is expected to expand from €2.1 billion to €5.2 billion by 2015.
“Today’s capital raise reflects the important role of our solar thermal power tower technology in meeting the world’s growing demand for cost-effective power that is not only clean, but reliable as well,” said John Woolard, chief executive officer of BrightSource.
“With these funds we will continue to build solar power plants for our US customers, while significantly increasing our presence around the globe.”
Do you have an opinion on this article? Share your views with the industry on our Solar Business Focus LinkedIn group.
