BrightSource Energy Has Raised More than $80 Million of Extra Equity Financing

October 25th, 2012 by James Ayre

One of the global leaders in concentrating solar thermal technology, BrightSource Energy, has now raised another $80 million dollars in additional equity financing. Its total equity financing now totals more than $615 million, opening up many possibilities for the company to significantly expand and grow.

“BrightSource’s unique technology combines the scale, robustness and stability of conventional power plants with the attractive low-carbon profile of using a solar feedstock,” noted Stephan Dolezalek, Managing Director at VantagePoint. “In addition, the Company’s model of working closely with global partners including Alstom, Bechtel, NRG, Google and Chevron is how we see the technology of energy evolving.”

The main investors during this latest round of capital-raising were: Alstom, VantagePoint Capital Partners, DFJ, CalSTRS, DBL Investors, Goldman Sachs, Chevron Technology Ventures, and BP Ventures.

BrightSource and Alstom have also expanded their geographic partnerships to develop solar thermal power plants in Australia and India. The companies also announced, back in 2010, plans to develop power plants in Africa and the Mediterranean. This is all in addition to their collaboration on the development of thermal storage and hybridization with fossil fuels.

BrightSource notes: “According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy, including both Concentrated Solar Thermal Power and Photovoltaics could account for 25% of global electricity by 2050 and cover a third of global energy demand after 2060. Concentrating solar thermal power alone could supply 11.3% of the world’s electricity by 2050.”

Currently, BrightSource Energy is operating a 6MW thermal demonstration facility in the Negev Desert in Israel, and also a 29MW thermal facility for in Coalinga, California.

It is also in the process of constructing the 377MW Ivanpah solar project, as part of its partnership with Google and NRG Energy. That project is currently more than 60% complete. When completed, it will be capable of providing renewable, reliable electricity to more than 140,000 California homes. The company is also in the process of receiving permits for a 500MW project in Rio Mesa, and a 500MW project in Hidden Hills.

Source: BrightSource Energy

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Tags: brightsource energy, brightSource energy solar thermal, concentrating solar-thermal, CSP, solar thermal energy, solar thermal start ups

About the Author

James Ayre 's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.