The energy would be produced through a series of projects incorporating Luz II’s proprietary DPT 550 technology, which is a hybrid solar-gas design that meets the requirements of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program. The technology also has the potential to dispatch electricity at any time of the day. The site for the plants has not been determined.
Luz II’s says its DPT technology is more efficient in converting sunlight to electricity than the solar trough design used by the original Luz firm and less expensive to build and operate. Arnold Goldman, Chairman of Luz II, says, “With DPT technology, the dream of cost-effective solar power is finally going to become a reality.”
Thirty percent of the power PG&E delivers comes from hydroelectric and eligible renewables, like wind, biomass, and geothermal facilities, while more than fifty percent of the power delivered comes from zero-carbon emission sources, officials say.
PG&E is adding renewable electric power resources to its supply at a planned rate of more than 300 megawatts per year. This year the company has entered into new agreements to purchase 274 megawatts of wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy.
