Ausra’s first solar thermal plant starts up

Ausra’s first solar thermal plant starts up

Solar startup Ausra added a small notch to its belt today, by becoming the first of a new generation of solar thermal companies to open a full-sized electricity generation plant. The Palo Alto, Calif. company cut the ribbon on a 5-megawatt facility about 250 miles… Continue Reading

Brightsource lands the largest solar deal yet

Brightsource lands the largest solar deal yet

When we talk about solar power projects, the cost is generally counted in the millions, not billions, of dollars. But a new deal between the California utility PG&E and a solar thermal company heralds the next age of renewable energy, when capital begins to flow… Continue Reading

Solar thermal gains steam with Ausra deal

Solar thermal gains steam with Ausra deal

updated
California energy utility PG&E has agreed to buy power from a 177-megawatt solar thermal plant to be built by Silicon Valley company Ausra.

Ausra, of Palo Alto, Calif., is applying for a regulatory permit to build on 640 acres of ranch land in California’s San Luis… Continue Reading

Ausra aims to build biggest solar thermal plant, raises $40M

Ausra aims to build biggest solar thermal plant, raises $40M

Ausra, an ambitious Silicon Valley company wanting to build a solar thermal electric power plant double the largest ever built, has raised somewhere north of $40 million in a first round of capital.

However, just as Ausra was preparing to make its announcement Monday that it… Continue Reading