The Hualapai Valley Solar Project will use molten salts to store excess heat so that it can provide electricity when it is most needed during peak hours. Credit: Mojave Valley Solar

From “bluefield development”  to record-breaking solar fields, Canada’s not the only country showcasing some top-ten-worthy projects. Some noteworthy North American projects were highlighted at a recent conference.

Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project
US$1.9 billion
There is enormous potential for solar, geothermal and wind energy that remains untapped in San Diego County and the sunny Imperial Valley. According to the California Energy Commission, this is partly due to a lack of transmission lines in California to connect green energy supplies found in the state’s rural areas to populated centres like San Diego. San Diego Gas & Electric wants to transmit renewable energy from Southern California and Arizona to populations further west, with the added benefit of ensuring reliable electricity transmission to So-Cal residents as well as reducing their power costs. To accomplish this, a 500-kilovolt transmission line will be built along with several 230-kilovolt transmission lines that will extend from the Imperial Valley to San Diego. Proponents will be seeking construction permits in early 2010—but the project isn’t home-free yet. It’s currently involved in US$200 million in litigations that may stall its progress or shut it down completely.

Hualapai Valley Solar
US$2 billion
Mojave Valley Solar LLC is pursuing the development of a 340-megawatt solar generating station that would be the largest of its kind in the world—the solar field would be three times the size of New York’s Central Park. Mojave will capitalize on the U.S. Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program for renewable generation projects. Before it can proceed, the project must acquire additional financing. Construction is set to begin before the end of 2010 in order to capitalize on stimulus incentives, and is scheduled for completion in 2013. The company issued RFPs to U.S. and Spanish companies over the summer—Spanish companies have strong expertise in this field—and has brought on German-based Fichtner Solar to design the project.

Oaxaca Wind Farms II, III. IV
US$496 million
The 300-megawatt wind project being developed by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) includes a US$400-million investment by the Mexican government. The company that is awarded the contract for the three wind farms will operate, own and maintain the facilities and deliver the electricity generated by the CFE for the designated period of time. The project is in the tender stage right now—there will be three separate contracts—and the farms are scheduled for completion in 2011.