Wind Energy

Alstom selected for Nevada concentrated solar thermal power plant

On September 1st, 2011, Alstom SA (Levallois-Perret, France) announced that it has signed a contract with Cobra Thermosolar Plants Inc. to supply a 125 MW steam turbine and generator for the Crescent Dunes Solar Project in Tonopah, Nevada, United States.

Alstom will deliver the turbine and generator for the concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in September 2012. Solar Reserve plans to commission the plant by the end of 2013.

"This contract in solar reinforces our commitment to the solar market, in line with Alstom’s clean power strategy to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable and clean energy," said Alstom Vice-President of Solar Armand Pineda.

Crescent Dunes plant to use molten salt power tower design. The Crescent Dunes CSP plant will utilize solar power tower technology, where a field of mirrors (heliostats) concentrates sunlight on a central receiver to heat a fluid. The heat from this fluid is then used to make steam to drive a turbine.

Molten salt technology will be utilized in the 100 MW plant, which will allow it to continue to generate electricity "on demand" after the sun has gone down or during cloudy periods.

Solar Reserve will sell the electricity generated by the plant to NV Energy (Reno, Nevada, U.S.) under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

www.alstom.com/