SCE and Stirling Plan for World's Largest Solar Facility

Southern California Edison and Stirling Energy Systems have announced a 20-year power-purchase agreement that could lead to the construction of a solar facility capable of producing more electricity than all other U.S. solar projects combined, according to SCS parent company Edison International. The agreement, subject to approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, calls for the construction of a 500 megawatt (MW) solar project on 4,500 acres (1,820 ha) 70 miles (112 km) northeast of Los Angeles. The project, which includes an option to expand to 850 MW, is anticipated to be the first major commercial application of Stirling dish technology, which converts solar thermal energy to electricity by using an array of mirrors to focus the sun’s rays on the receiver end of a Stirling engine. More information is online at www.edison.com.