Abengoa and BrightSource Energy have signed an agreement to jointly develop, build and operate the world’s two largest solar power towers. The Palen project consists of two 250 MW units located in a Department of Interior Solar Energy Zone in Riverside County, California.
As joint partners, the two pioneers in solar power tower technology will work together to permit and finance the 500 MW Palen Solar Electric Generating System. Abengoa will build the plants as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor, and will lead the operation and maintenance of the plants once online. BrightSource will provide the solar field technology and plant design.
Together the plants will produce enough electricity to power 200,000 households and will prevent the emission of about 17 MtCO2 over its life cycle. With permitting and development under way, construction is expected to begin at the end of 2013. The solar plants are expected to come online in 2016.