Austin-based ThermalSoul, a wholesale provider of renewable thermal power, plans to break ground within 60 to 90 days on a renewable solar thermal energy plant in Austin that would be its first facility in the United States.
“We are reviewing site plans between 5 and 20 acres. Cost and location are the driving factors,” company spokesman Scott Campbell said.
Initially, most of the ThermalSoul jobs in Austin will be in construction and engineering. Campbell said the company expects to create 10 to 20 jobs in the Austin area over the long term.
The ThermalSoul plant will be Austin’s first solar thermal power generation facility.
The ThermalSoul facility is expected to generate up to 10 megawatts of electricity–enough to power 7,000 to 9,000 homes. ThermalSoul said it will be able to expand the facility if needed.
Solar thermal technology harnesses energy from the sun to generate heat, or thermal energy. Solar energy is gathered through high-temperature collectors and moves through a thermal liquid, which stores the heat as energy and uses it to generate electricity.
“Our mission is to help public and private utilities in Central Texas and throughout the Sun Belt meet renewable energy mandates without sacrificing economic growth,” said Rich Phillips, managing partner of ThermalSoul.
“Austin employers and homeowners want to embrace green technology, but in these economic times, many cannot afford the high-cost of wind or other alternative energy sources. ThermalSoul will enable Austin to meet its renewable energy goals while protecting economic growth.”
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