Solar thermal power facility coming to Austin

Wholesale clean energy provider ThermalSoul is looking for sites to build Austin's first solar thermal power generation facility.

The Austin-based company said Wednesday the new plant will be its first in the United States. Its others are in Mexico. The facility will use high temperature collectors and thermal liquid to transform sunshine into heat energy.

The company said unlike traditional solar-panel produced energy, solar thermal stations can generate power at night and in cloudy weather by using stored thermal heat.

ThermalSoul said it expects to generate power at or near the wholesale cost of coal.

“As Austin moves to expand renewable energy mandates, it is critical that we seek out energy sources that are not only good for the environment, but pro-business and pro-jobs as well,” said Rich Phillips, ThermalSoul managing partner and president of Austin-based Phillips & Co., which launched a green practice Monday.

Read the full story in the Austin Business Journal.