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During 2004 and in 2005, a
remarkable revival of
CSP has been observed in the USA South-west. With the
election of Governor Schwarzenegger in October 2003, California has
increased its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 20% in 2012 and 30% in
2020. Governor Schwarzenegger mandated a Solar Task Force aiming to define
the rules to implement 3,000 MW of new solar power by 2015. A similar task
force has been set-up by the Western Governor’s Association, resulting in a
goal of 30 GW of clean power technology, including 7 GW of renewable power
by 2015. New Mexico has even mandated a CSP specific task force to outline
the way towards the first commercial plants.
All this is very rational if the USA South-west’s peaking power profile is
considered: during recent years, California experienced several summer
on-peak brown- and black-outs. Gas prices have quadrupled during the last
three years. Today, Southern California’s peaking power costs anywhere
between US cent 10-18/kWh, i.e.
CSP is already cost-effective without any
subsidies or enhanced tariff schemes.
Further
information:
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