Solar Power World

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In the presence of Governor Bill Richardson, Chevron Mining Inc. announced that sister company Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), will build a one megawatt concentrating photovoltaic solar facility on the tailing site of CMI’s molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico.  The project will demonstrate and evaluate an emerging solar technology and a practical use of previously impacted land.

The electricity produced will be sold to Kit Carson Electric Cooperative through a power purchase agreement.  Project construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2010 and conclude by year-end.

The facility will include approximately 175 solar panels placed on about 20 acres of the Questa Mine’s tailings site.  The project will be implemented in conjunction with an evaluation of various soil cover depths for closure of the tailing facility at the end of mining operations.

Chevron will install concentrating photovoltaic technology that uses lenses to collect and focus direct sunlight onto layers of high efficiency cells. This technology is expected to work best in areas which have higher direct solar radiation such as New Mexico. Concentrix Solar GmbH has been selected by CTV to provide the concentrating photovoltaic system.

www.chevron.com