[tt] Optisolar to Build Largest Solar Farm in North America

[Brian Atkins]

(I think odds are this won't be the largest when it finally gets done in 2013)

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2008/04/optisolar-to-bu.html

OptiSolar, Hayward, California, is developing a 550 megawatt photovoltaic (PV) 
solar farm, the largest in North America, covering over 6,000 acres, in San Luis 
Obispo County, California.

OptiSolar intends to submit an application to San Luis Obispo County for a 
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in May. Construction is targeted to begin in 2010, 
after completing the local approval process. Installation of panels will occur 
over a period of up to three years.

OptiSolar is a vertically intigrated company manufacturing its own solar cells 
and panels and claims its amorphous silicon thin-film solar PV panels combine 
proprietary manufacturing processes and innovative design to yield affordable, 
durable panels that significantly reduce the cost of clean solar power. Their 
thin-film design requires only about 1% of the silicon used in crystalline 
systems, thus not being affected by the availability of crystalline silicon. The 
companies technology enables low-profile solar panels to be placed on simple 
concrete and steel ballasts with minimal grading.

Although photovoltaic solar panels are currently less efficient than solar 
thermal systems, OptiSolar claims that its solar cells are significantly more 
cost effective as they require less expensive silicon during manufacture, 
consume little water, and require far less maintenance than turbine based 
systems. In addition they avoid the need for large structures that turbine-based 
systems require, and do not result in the noise associated with such systems.

OptiSolar Farms Canada has 21 solar project  in Canada under various phases of 
development including the 60-megawatt "Sarnia Solar" park, which will be broken 
into six construction phases with the first 10-megawatt phase expected to be 
completed by year's end and the balance competed in 2009.

-- 
Brian Atkins
Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/