Google moves on plans to cheapen solar thermal energy
Google, not content to only use clean technology on its campuses, has decided to get involved in the solar thermal energy business. The company will work to improve the mirrors used in solar thermal systems, making them more affordable for widespread commercial and utility use.
Solar thermal power generation has been identified as one of the more feasible technologies in the renewable energy space. At most of these facilities, mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight on… Continue Reading
Let there be light: eSolar switches on first U.S. solar thermal tower
The U.S. solar industry just took a great leap forward with eSolar’s announcement that its 5-megawatt Sierra SunTower is now fully operational. Located in Lancaster, Calif., the array uses 24,000 mirrors to concentrate sunlight on two 160-foot towers.
The facility is technically a solar thermal plant, meaning that instead of solar cells converting sunlight directly to energy, the light is used to heat water located at the top of the towers. The steam generated turns a… Continue Reading
eSolar nabs $30M licensing deal for Indian plants
eSolar has been focusing increasingly on building large-scale plants in the U.S., and shedding plans to do the same overseas. Just last week, it announced that it sold its rights to build 500 megawatts worth of solar-thermal plants to NRG Energy for $10 million in equity. Now it’s licensing its technology to Indian power company Acme Group, which will use it to build solar-thermal plants in India capable of producing 1,000 megawatts. In exchange, Acme… Continue Reading
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 southward in central California, where it will generate enough electricity at peak hours to power 3,500 homes.
The new plant is being lauded as the first solar thermal installation to begin… Continue Reading
Sundrop Fuels picks up eSolar technology for its solar hydrogen dish
A new solar technology that creates hydrogen as well as electricity is on the horizon. Sundrop Fuels, a stealthy New Mexico company with an innovative dish design, has licensed structural ideas from larger and better-known startup, eSolar, to create something unprecedented.
Sundrop has been secretive about its technology since its inception, but word of a $20 million investment from Kleiner Perkins slipped out earlier this year. With some digging, I turned up a few details on… Continue Reading
Roundup: Sony opens to online advertisers, Electronic Arts confirms Rupture acquisition and more
Here’s the latest action:
Sony opens to in-game ads — The company is about to announce support for ads in the PlayStation 3 video game console, and in-game advertising company IGA Worldwide will be the first to announce a deal, according to Forbes and other publications. As video games become both more lucrative and more expensive to make, this seems like an obvious revenue source, albeit one that may not be welcomed by all gamers. No word… Continue Reading
Could a big geothermal energy play be next for Google.org?
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has taken a number of stakes in solar and wind startups over the past year, most recently joining a $115 million investment in solar thermal firm BrightSource Energy. It now seems to be focusing its attention on the bustling geothermal energy sector, with Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently expressing a strong interest in Ormat, a geothermal startup headquartered in Reno, Nevada.
During an interview with the Israeli newspaper, The Marker, Brin confirmed… Continue Reading
Google joins in $115M investment into solar thermal company, BrightSource
BrightSource Energy, an Oakland, Calif., solar thermal startup, has landed a hefty $115 million funding round from investors including Google to develop its solar power tower technology.
Solar thermal technology is one the leading hopes for alternative energy. It uses like mirrors and lenses to boil water, the steam of which is harnessed to generate electricity.
This third round was led by Google.org, VantagePoint Venture Partners, BP Alternative Energy, Statoil Hydro Venture and Black River; returning investors… Continue Reading
Google, Oak Investment and Idealab back eSolar to the tune of $130M
In the rapid rise of solar thermal power, a small handful of companies have grabbed the lion’s share of attention and funding: Ausra, Brightsource and Solel are the three most oft-heard names. Another company, eSolar, can now add its name to that shortlist, with one of the biggest cleantech venture fundings to date.
Notably, eSolar has plans to immediately funnel the money into construction projects that may see its plants going online ahead of its competitors’.
The… Continue Reading