CPUC approves two BrightSource contracts with SCE

October 26, 2012
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved two amended BrightSource contracts, totaling 1,300,000MWh annually, with Southern California Edison (SCE).

One of the approved projects will see a power tower built at BrightSource’s Rio Mesa site and generate 573,000MWh annually. The plant will use the company’s LPT technology and sport a 750-foot tall tower with high concentration heliostats. The second contract approved was for BrightSource’s Sonoran West site, which will produce 733,000MWh annually. The project will use the company’s SolarPLUS thermal storage system.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The two approved contracts were submitted in November 2011 under a package of five contracts. The CPUC did not approve three of the contracts cost recovery proposals from SCE, which included a 200MW project at Rio Mesa and two 200MW projects at a Siberia site. However, BrightSource noted that it would continue with its plans for the Rio Mesa project as it awaits a permitting decision from the CEC. BrightSource stated that its Siberia project would linger as part of its 90,000-acre site portfolio.

“We’re pleased by the Commission’s approval of our contracts with Southern California Edison,” John Woolard, president and CEO of BrightSource Energy, noted in a statement. “The approval of these contracts allows us to build on the technology innovations deployed at our Ivanpah project, and continue driving down costs and improving efficiencies in our next generation plants, while incorporating storage into our power tower systems.”

Read Next

October 21, 2025
Australia's solar-plus-storage sector gained momentum with 725MW of solar PV approvals advancing across New South Wales and Queensland.
October 21, 2025
Luminous Robotics has successfully completed its first international deployment of AI-powered solar installation robots at Engie’s 250MW Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria, Australia.
October 21, 2025
An independent panel has granted resource consents for the 179MW Glorit Solar Farm in Auckland, New Zealand.
Premium
October 20, 2025
New data suggests the traditional assumptions behind hail stow modelling may be underestimating the likelihood of damage to a PV system.
October 20, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Atlas Renewable Energy has secured up to US$475 million in financing for a 357MW solar-plus-storage project in Chile.
October 20, 2025
New federal policies in the US will 'cloud' the country’s renewable energy sector, according to a webinar hosted by Wood Mackenzie.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK