US Approves SolarReserve’s Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project

SolarReserve has received approval from the US Secretary authorising the construction of the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Nye County near Tonopah, Nevada, US.

The construction of the 110MW project is expected to begin in mid-2011.

SolarReserve will use the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s advanced solar energy technology, which has the ability to capture and store enough thermal energy each morning to provide electricity at full power all afternoon, and for up to eight hours after sunset.

A SolarReserve subsidiary, Tonopah Solar Energy has signed a 25-year purchase agreement with NV energy for sale of electricity from the project.

The plant is expected to generate electricity sufficient to power 75,000 Nevada households.