Bell Independent Power Corp., headquartered in Rochester, New York, will develop and run a 5-MW solar power plant featuring a uniquely innovative thermal storage system
The company was nominated today as the first tenant of the University of Arizona Science and Tech Park's Solar Zone – of which 200 acres were dedicated to solar power production and education.
The 45-acres solar power plant’s construction cost will amount to $32 million. Construction of the facility is planned to begin in late spring or early summer 2010, dependent on the granting process. The development of the solar site will result in 75 jobs and the plant will need seven full-time employees for running. The plant will generate enough power for 1,500 typical Tucson households and will be fully operational in 2011.
This is a solar power concentrating facility, using mirrors to concentrate the sunrays for heating a tower filled with oil. The innovative solution, designed by Bell in the last five years, enables an enhanced generation after sunset because of its capacity to store the heated material. Tucson Electric Power has requested the Arizona Corporation Commission to agree to its intention to buy power from the new plant over 20-years time. The approval is expected to come this quarter.
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