Megalim to construct 121MW solar thermal plant in Israel

The Israel inter-ministerial Tender Committee has awarded a contract to BrightSource Energy and Alstom to construct a 121MW solar thermal power plant in Israel.

Megalim Solar Power, a special purpose firm that the two companies created, will plan, finance, build, operate and maintain the power plant, planned for construction in the Negev Desert.

Expected to be commissioned in 2017, the project is part of the three selected under Israel’s Ashalim 250MW total solar tender including two CSP plants and one PV plant.

All three projects are strategic towards Israel’s goal to generate 10% of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Megalim will manage the plant for about 25 years after which ownership will be transferred to the State of Israel.

Israel Ministry of Finance together with the Ministry of Energy and Water noted, "The principal advantage of [BrightSource’s] solar thermal technology is its high reliability which enables it to constitute a real substitute to conventional power plants which consume fossil fuels, as opposed to some other renewable energy technologies."

Ministry of Finance accountant general Michal Abadi-Boyanjo said, "The construction of solar thermal plant in Ashalim will be another important step towards the implementation of the governmental targets for the production of electricity from renewable resources, while leveraging the creativity and innovativeness of the private sector, as reflected in the tenders promoted by the Accountant General Department."