San Joaquin Solar's Technology Combines Solar and Biofuel Sources for Around-the-Clock Clean Energy Production SAN FRANCISCO, June 12
SAN FRANCISCO, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its momentum of adding
utility-scale solar power to its energy mix, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
announced today that it has entered into two contracts with San Joaquin Solar
LLC, a subsidiary of Martifer Renewables Electricity LLC, for a combined 106.8
megawatts (MW) of solar thermal-biofuel hybrid power. Located near Coalinga,
CA, the solar-biofuel projects will deliver a total of 700 gigawatt hours
(GWh) annually of renewable electricity to PG&E customers throughout northern
and central California.
"This hybrid technology combines two renewable resources abundant in
California -- solar energy and biofuel from the Central Valley," said Fong
Wan, vice president of energy procurement at PG&E. "We will continue to add
these types of innovative renewable energy sources to our power mix as we work
to provide our customers with some of the cleanest energy in the nation and
meet our state's climate change goals."
Martifer's renewable hybrid projects combine Luz solar thermal trough
technology and steam turbines powered by biomass fuel to produce hybrid
solar-biofuel renewable electricity. The incorporation of biofuel increases
the overall production of renewable power by allowing for around-the-clock
production of clean energy, even at night or when sunlight is not at its
strongest. Each hybrid project will require 250,000 tons of biofuel annually,
to be supplied from a combination of locally-produced agricultural wastes,
green wastes and livestock manure. These projects are expected to begin
operation in 2011.
"Martifer and its development partners have designed a creative renewable
energy system that is cost-competitive with conventional generation
technologies," said Ricardo Abecassis, president of Martifer Renewables Solar.
"We expect these and future Martifer projects will increase the level of
clean, affordable, renewable energy in California while at the same time
alleviating the pressure on agricultural producers and municipalities to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions."
"The City of Coalinga is delighted to welcome this renewable energy
project which will benefit the environment and create local jobs," said
Coalinga Mayor Trish Hill. "In addition to increasing the amount of clean,
renewable energy for our residents, it will help to improve air quality
through utilizing locally-sourced biomass, including livestock manure."
The contracts filed today with the California Public Utilities Commission
are part of PG&E's broader renewable energy portfolio. Since 2002, PG&E has
entered into contracts for over 2,500 MW of renewable power. California law
requires each investor-owned utility to increase the share of eligible
renewable generating resources in its electric power portfolio to 20 percent
by 2010. PG&E has made contractual commitments to have over 20 percent of its
future deliveries from renewables. For 2008, PG&E expects to have 14 percent
of its energy delivered from renewable sources.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is one
of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United
States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers
some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and
central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com.
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
