Largest deal so far for BrightSource, it is the equivalent of electric power for more than half-a-million homes…

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that it has entered into a series of contracts with BrightSource Energy, Inc. for a record total of 1,310 megawatts (MW) of solar thermal power. These power purchase agreements, covering seven projects, supersede the agreements PG&E executed with BrightSource in April 2008 for up to 900 MW of solar thermal power.

The first of these solar power plants, sized at 110 MW and located in Ivanpah, Calif., is contracted to begin operation in 2012. BrightSource will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow. All seven projects are expected to produce 3,666 gigawatt-hours of power each year, equal to the annual consumption of about 530,000 average homes.

Since 2002, PG&E has entered into contracts for more than 20 percent of its future electric power deliveries from renewable sources. On average, half of the electricity PG&E delivers to its customers comes from carbon-free generating sources, making the company’s energy some of the cleanest in the nation.

It’s now the largest solar deal on record – following BrightSource’s 1,300 MW deal with Southern California Edison in March.

BrightSource now has 2,610 MW under contract, more than any other solar thermal company in the world, and representing more than 40% of all large-scale solar thermal contracts in the US.

Today’s announcement is an expansion of a previous contract with BrightSource and PG&E. PG&E expanded the previous agreement from 900 to 1,310 MW following and independent engineering firm’s evaluation of BrightSource’s technology at the company’s demonstration facility in Israel’s Negev Desert.

Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company with operations in the United States and Israel. www.brightsourceenergy.com.