Ausra opens U.S. solar-thermal plant

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Ausra today opened its 5-megawatt Kimberlina solar thermal power project near Bakersfield, Calif. 

It's the first plant in North America with Ausra's Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector solar collector and steam generation system, which uses mirrors and heat to turn water into steam. The company says the product is scalable, low cost and land-use efficient.

"This plant proves that our technology is real, it works, and it's ready to power businesses or provide process steam for industries now," CEO Robert Fishman said in a release.

The plant, built in seven months, is expected to power 3,500 homes.

Ausra has raised $133 million in venture equity and debt financing (see Ausra grabs $60M, loses founder). Ausra used part of the most recent round to complete the Kimberlina project.

The company says it now plans to focus on building its 177-MW solar thermal plant in central California. Ausra signed a power-purchase agreement for the Carrizo Plains project with San Francisco's Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE: PCG) (see PG&E, Ausra in 177MW solar thermal deal). That facility is expected to power 120,000 homes.

Ausra's first North American manufacturing and distribution plant in Las Vegas began operating in June (see Ausra starts up Nevada manufacturing plant). The plant is expected to also produce absorber tubes and other key components for the PG&E project and for other solar-thermal power projects throughout the American Southwest.

Ausra recently expanded its focus to industrial applications, promoting its direct solar steam product for enhanced oil refining, food processing, and pulp and paper manufacturing.

Ausra has said solar thermal has the potential to provide more than 90 percent of the U.S. electricity demand (see Solar thermal could supply most of the U.S. grid, says Ausra).

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