Solar Energy | Carrizo Energy Solar Farm
A proposed concentrating solar power (CSP) project in San Luis Obispo County, California is being planned by solar-thermal power developer Ausra Inc. The project will construct the Carrizo Energy Solar Farm(CESF), a 177MW power plant using Ausra’s Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology.
Ausra has filed an Application for Certification with the California Energy Commission and approval has to be granted before construction can begin.
If licenses are granted, site construction activities will begin in the first quarter 2009 and the plant is expected to begin 
generating power in 2010. It’s anticipated that the entire CESF will be in full commercial operation by first quarter 2012.
The CESF is located in an unincorporated area of eastern San Luis Obispo County, west of Simmler and northwest of California Valley, California. The CESF includes the solar farm site, a minimal offsite transmission system connection, and construction laydown area. The CESF site will encompass approximately 640 acres.
The Project design will incorporate Ausra’s proprietary CLFR technology to concentrate solar energy on pipes in an elevated receiver. The concentrated solar energy boils water within a row of specially coated stainless steel pipes in an insulated cavity to produce saturated steam. The steam produced in the receivers is collected in a series of pipes, routed to steam drums, and then to the two turbine generators. Steam used by the steam turbines is condensed back to water and returned to the solar field.
California power giant Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced back in November 2007 that it had entered into a power purchase agreement with Ausra to purchase the entire 177MW of solar power produced by the project.
Ausra has suggested that the power plant will create more than 350 jobs on-site during construction and an additional 100 permanent jobs in the area.
Up until now, Ausra have not built a commercial solar thermal facility with the technology only being limited to small demonstration plants. The company claims that it can deliver power at 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour with its CLFR technology compared to about 9.7 cents per kilowatt-hour for a coal-fired plant. But it goes on to add that it can potentially cut costs to 7.9 cents per kilowatt-hour in the next three years when they begin constructing even larger power plants.
“This 177-megawatt plant is the first manifestation of Ausra and PG&E’s shared vision of competitively priced, large-scale solar electric power,” said Glen Davis, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Ausra. “We’re excited to be partnering with PG&E to deliver clean power at hours of peak demand.”
Another partnership between Ausra and Pacific Gas and Electric, as well as Florida Power & Light Co. is also behind a planned solar thermal power project in Florida.
At this stage, though, the Carrizo Energy Solar Farm license application is still before the California Energy Commission.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
This article is a ball-faced lie. Asura/URS are manipulative and liers. They are trying to built this plant next to people’s homes in an agricultural area that already has a major water problem. They are not planning to hire any local people for this site.
October 16th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I am curently doing a research paper on this topic and would love if any concerned locals would like to share thier viewpoints with me in an interview. You can contact me at Lbforyou2@aim.com
November 14th, 2008 at 9:44 am
[...] developer Ausra because it will act as a demonstration of the technology that will be used for the Carrizo Plains solar power plant, a 117MW development expected to go on-line in [...]
December 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am
What impact will this have on local water issues? and what damage will it do to housing prices? And even if they bring in non local people to build it won’t the people that are permanent be local? I’m just looking for info, I have no side on this.
March 5th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Ausra/URS are not interested in the truth.Peter Darbee of PG&E already stated that this power is going to cost the rate payer a minimum of 26-27 cents a kwh.Try over doubling everyones power bills.Ausra plans on putting this plant as close as 1300ft from local residences. The Carrizo Plains is in an overdraft situation right now (SLO County Master Water Plan Update). Ausra does not care. The Carrizo Plains has a safe seasonal water yield of 600afy and local ag and residental is pulling almost 1200afy. Ausra plans on using 144afy for just the first year of construction 77afy for the second year and 44afy for the third year. During operation they plan on using 21,500 gallons per day 365 days a year,over 7million gallons per year best case estimate. Ausra has ignored Department of Fish & Game, Fish & Wildlife Service and all county agencies that have voiced concerns. Ausra wants this plant at any cost destroying everything in their path. PG&E signed a 1 billion dollar contract with Ausra and Ausra pays no taxes thanks to federal and state tax credits. I sure hope Ausra is not an example of things to come!!!
May 19th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Local residents of California Valley. The views out here are different depending upon who you speak to. We are diverse and opinionated, with one main thing in common the love of the area. There are families who have been here for generations. There are those who have only been here for a few years.
The power plant is being built on the location of the previous power plant. So issues of residences is not one. The issue of how close to the school though is one. Some believe that the power plant may eat up the ground water. Which is dismissed by the fact that the water they are planning on using is an underground sea undrinkable without some sort of desalination treatment.
Then there is the issue of where the water which is being used goes. It would be nice to put in a water distillation plant or some sort of other water recovery.
There is the issue of who will be offered jobs within the plant or even in the construction. The Carrizo Plains has very limited employment even for the small population and bringing in workers is unacceptable. The locals should be given a full if not first opportunity to receive training for jobs.
Many residents can see a silver lining on property they have purchased and paid taxes on for years without the value ever increasing. At times ever decreasing. With the raise in property values brings in an ever increasing population and an end to what is considered valley life. However many residents would like to have some luxuries like a store within 20 miles. Or a gas station.
The impact on the natural area soda lake and areas is thought to not be an issue due to the location of the plant.
This is an issue for residents of carizzo plains California Valley / Simmler.
May 21st, 2009 at 1:51 am
What about all of the wildlife, endangered species and even not endangered species whose migration will be blocked and whose niches and shelter and food will be wiped out! Please think of relocating this project to a less environmentally susceptible place!
May 14th, 2010 at 3:24 am
I am a student doin a research paper on the Corrizo solar plant. I am a SLO local, and wondering who will get the power produced from the plant. will there be power lines? How many, for how far? Is it really going to be built where an old plant existed? what was it called? Thank you!!