The Solel Company says that the Negev facility will be able to produce 150 megawatts and provide clean power to 300,000 homes. The company has already approached the state authorities, among them the Israel Electric Corporation, to obtain the necessary permits to build a private power plant in the region.
"Israel has the ideal conditions for producing clean energy," said Solel CEO Avi Brenmiller. "We expect that in 10-15 years about 10 percent of Israelis will consume clean solar energy and the percentage is expected to increase annually. This will totally change the energy market in Israel."
Construction of the Negev power plant was expected to cost about $350 million. Within 10 years, Solel intends to expand the facility to produce 500 MW of power daily, at a total investment of about $1 billion. The plant would use 70% solar energy and 30% natural gas to heat water for steam-based power production.
Solel's technology is used in nine commercial solar-powered plants in California, producing 350 megawatts of electricity for 500,000 people, as well as by power suppliers serving 150,000 homes in Nevada. The company, established in 1992, has its development and manufacturing center in Beit-Shemesh, near Jerusalem.
"Israel has the ideal conditions for producing clean energy," said Solel CEO Avi Brenmiller. "We expect that in 10-15 years about 10 percent of Israelis will consume clean solar energy and the percentage is expected to increase annually. This will totally change the energy market in Israel."
Construction of the Negev power plant was expected to cost about $350 million. Within 10 years, Solel intends to expand the facility to produce 500 MW of power daily, at a total investment of about $1 billion. The plant would use 70% solar energy and 30% natural gas to heat water for steam-based power production.
Solel's technology is used in nine commercial solar-powered plants in California, producing 350 megawatts of electricity for 500,000 people, as well as by power suppliers serving 150,000 homes in Nevada. The company, established in 1992, has its development and manufacturing center in Beit-Shemesh, near Jerusalem.