Stirling Energy Systems will continue its focus on the engineering, manufacturing and volume ramp of the SunCatcher platform.
Commenting on the launch, Stirling Energy Systems Chairman Ian Simington stated, “Establishing Tessera Solar as our solar development company marks a significant milestone on our path to realizing the potential of the SunCatcher™ system. New CSP generation systems such as the SunCatcher™ need experienced project development partners to bring them to market, and in Tessera Solar we are building a world class development team and project pipeline.”
The SunCatcher represents the next generation of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, potentially the most efficient and cost-effective commercial solar solution ever developed. “CSP is emerging as one of the most promising sources of renewable energy for the 21st century,” said Robert (Bob) Lukefahr, chief executive officer (CEO) of Tessera Solar North America. “The SunCatcher has numerous environmental advantages, including the lowest water use of any thermal electric generating technology, minimal grading and trenching requirements, no excavation for foundations, and the highest sun-to-grid efficiency of any solar generating technology, the cumulative result of which minimizes both cost and land use.”
The SunCatcher system consists of an array of curved glass mirror facets that act as a solar concentrator in a dish structure. These mirrors collect and concentrate solar energy into a closed-loop, high-efficiency, and four-cylinder reciprocating Solar Stirling Engine. Manufacturing of SunCatchers at production volumes will commence in 2010, utilizing Tier 1 automotive suppliers for key components. With over 90% North American content, SES Inc. expects to employ hundreds of U.S. autoworkers in the production of the SunCatcher. SES Inc. CEO Steve Cowman commented, The SunCatcher Power System is a breakthrough technology, but at its heart, it is an engine, mirrors, steel, and electric motors. Who better to build these at scale than the U.S. automotive industry?
Tessera Solar North America and Tessera Solar International are developing, and will build, operate and own large-scale solar power plants worldwide. Tessera Solar North America will oversee completion of the two projects commenced by SES Inc. with California utilities San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, with two of the largest solar farms in the world scheduled to begin construction in California as early as 2010. Tessera Solar North America is building a pipeline of additional domestic projects, with the goal of developing 1,000 MW of new solar plants by the end of 2011.
Tessera Solar International is developing projects outside North America in southern Europe, Asia, MENA and Latin America, with initial deployments slated for 2010. CEO of Tessera Solar International Trevor Nash commented, “The Suncatcher system’s high efficiency and low cost is ideally suited to opportunities in southern Europe. The SunCxatcher’s near-zero water use, scalable modularity and terrain flexibility provides compelling advantage in the broader Mediterranean rim and in many desert and arid areas around the world.”
Tessera Solar North America and Tessera Solar International are developing, and will build, operate and own large-scale solar power plants worldwide. Tessera Solar North America will oversee completion of the two projects commenced by SES Inc. with California utilities San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, with two of the largest solar farms in the world scheduled to begin construction in California as early as 2010. Tessera Solar North America is building a pipeline of additional domestic projects, with the goal of developing 1,000 MW of new solar plants by the end of 2011.
Tessera Solar International is developing projects outside North America in southern Europe, Asia, MENA and Latin America, with initial deployments slated for 2010. CEO of Tessera Solar International Trevor Nash commented, “The Suncatcher system’s high efficiency and low cost is ideally suited to opportunities in southern Europe. The SunCxatcher’s near-zero water use, scalable modularity and terrain flexibility provides compelling advantage in the broader Mediterranean rim and in many desert and arid areas around the world.”
Bob Lukefahr, CEO Tessera Solar North America
As CEO of Tessera Solar North America, Bob Lukefahr is responsible for all aspects of the North American development business which will develop, own and operate grid-scale solar facilities using SES Inc.’s groundbreaking SunCatcher Power System.
Prior to joining Tessera Solar, Bob was President of BP Global Wind Energy / BP Power Americas. Bob created BP’s U.S. Wind Energy business in 2006 and built it to become one of the largest wind developers in the US. Under Bob’s leadership, BP’s US wind business installed over 1,000 megawatt (MW) of assets in the past two years and developed a pipeline of 20,000 MW of projects in development. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Wind Energy Association. Prior to joining BP, Bob was a partner in the energy practice at Booz & Company, a leading strategy consulting firm. Bob holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Brent Bailey, vice president, general counsel & corporate secretary
Brent has more than 25 years of experience in energy law. Most recently he was Group Vice President and General Counsel for Duke Energy Americas where he managed a staff of more than 40 attorneys. Brent has extensive experience in every aspect of energy development and corporate law. Prior to working at Duke Energy, he was a Senior Counsel at Enron where he focused on power plant development, finance, and construction. Earlier in his career he held positions at several law firms. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a JD from Baylor University School of Law.
Gerritt Ewing, chief financial officer
Gerritt has joined as chief financial officer of Tessera Solar. Gerritt has more than 30 years experience in Energy Finance. Most recently he was Assistant Treasurer for Energy Future Holdings (TXU) where he had primary responsibility for structured finance activities in the nuclear, renewable energy and gas gathering businesses. Prior to that he was Vice President, Structured Finance and Chief Financial Officer – Entergy Asset Management, and has held numerous senior energy finance positions at banks, investment firms and power companies both in the US and UK. Gerritt has a proven track record of successfully raising and structuring a wide variety of Energy Finance including recourse and non-recourse bank debt, multilateral international funding, and DOE funding. He holds an MBA from Pace Graduate School and a BA in Economics from Lafayette College.
Felicia Bellows, vice president (VP) of development
Felicia Bellows has joined as VP of Development. She has more than 25 years of experience in Energy Development and has spent 15 years working in Energy in Latin America. Most recently she was Executive Vice President of Development for Econergy where she developed hydroelectric plants in Brazil and Chile. Prior to that she was President, Alliant Energy Holdings do Brasil and Managing Director, Latin America, Alliant Energy International where she successfully developed and operated thermal power, hydroelectric power, and T&D systems.
Bellows also worked at Southern Company as President, Southern Energy do Brasil and Director of Finance & Project Manager, Southern Energy where she was active in both acquisitions and developed Greenfield thermal assets. She holds a BS from Georgia Tech and is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Greek.
