Sopogy plans Idaho solar thermal plant

Honolulu's Sopogy says it plans to subject its solar thermal technology to a northern climate, announcing that it would build a 50 kilowatt test plant in Idaho.

The company's concentrating solar power facility will go up at the Avista Clean Energy Test Site in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Avista, a Spokane-based electric and natural gas utility, created the test site to allow for deployment and testing of emerging renewable energy technologies.

Sopogy said its MicroCSPTM technology is designed to provide thermal energy as process heat, generate electricity, or provide air conditioning in areas with the right solar conditions.

"This is an exciting step toward helping to accelerate distributed generation and wider use of renewable energy," said Darren Kimura, president and CEO of Sopogy.

The company said many areas of the Northwest have long days and clear summer skies and a summer daytime peaking load, which it said is an ideal condition for its system.

The highest output of the Sopogy plant is expected to coincide with the peak demands of the utility's high summer daytime load.

The initial phase of the test deployment will begin in mid-September, with full deployment targeted for the summer of 2008.

Sopogy, which stands for solar powered energy, raised $3 million in angel financing in January.

In June, the company received state approval to issue $10 million in special revenue bonds to build a solar farm tentatively planned for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority facility in Kona.

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