Abengoa SA And BrightSource Energy Partner to Build Solar Power Towers-Dow Jones

Dow Jones reported that Abengoa SA and BrightSource Energy signed an agreement to jointly develop, build and operate two solar power towers in California. As joint partners, they will work together to permit and finance the 500 megawatt (MW) Palen Solar Electric Generating System. Abengoa SA 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. The Palen project consists of two 250 MW units located in a Department of Interior Solar Energy Zone in Riverside County, California. Together the plants will produce enough electricity to power 200,000 households and will prevent the emission of about 17 million tons of carbon dioxide over its life cycle. With permitting and development under way, construction is expected to begin at the end of 2013 and will create more than 2,000 jobs. The solar plants are expected to come online in 2016.