Stirling Energy Systems expands its offices as solar efforts ramp up - Houston Business Journal:

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The Scottsdale company, whichg received a $100 million investment last yearfrom Dublin-based NTR plc, is moving quickly to capture a segment of the utility-scale solar market with its Stirling engines technology. The company opened its new 37,000-square-foott office in early May. It has hired aboutt 100 employees this year and expectw to add 60 to 80 more by the end of the for a totalof 180, said CEO Stevd Cowman, who joined the firm last year as part of NTR’ss investment. “We’ve always liked the solarr space, and this was a good opportunity,” he The company is based on anearly 200-year-old engine which operates through the expansion and contractionm of gases.
Stirling uses a 40-footg mirrored dish to focus the sun’s rays to heat hydrogen gas to 1,40p0 degrees Fahrenheit. The gas expands, moving a pistonm and poweringthe engine. As the gas it is moved out of the piston chamber and back to wheres it will be reheated bythe sun. The company had been operatinfg in the Valleysince 1996, but NTR’zs investment has pushed it to develop the technolog more quickly. It has two power-purchaswe agreements: one with San Diego Gas Electric for between 300 and 750 megawatts at a site inImperialo Valley, Calif.
, and one with Southern California Edisonj for 500 to 900 megawatts in the Mohave Cowman said it’s adding positions of all from engineering to construction, to meet its growtnh curve. To handle project management, NTR founder Tessera Solar earlier this year to developthe utility-scale projects, with Stirling providingv the equipment. Ramping up both project development and construction has required capital and peopled to serve what the compant believes will be one of the largesy solar markets inthe world, said Jim CEO of NTR. “Wer believe the U.S. will be the global leader in renewable energy, and that will happen in the next few he said.
NTR, founded 30 years ago to operat Ireland’s toll roads, has expanded into a number of renewable energy andrecycling efforts. Stirling’s technology — which offersx an alternative to photovoltaic as well as a different take on concentrated solarpower — has a good base in Arizona that can servre markets throughout the Southwest, Barrhy said. In addition to hiring, the company is lookin g at potential sites in the Vallety to housea 60-dish, 1.5-megawatt test location. The companyy has a small site at the Sandiw National Laboratoriesin Albuquerque, N.M., but is hopinhg to find a larger site to provide a locationm to bring clients.
It has run into challenges securinbg local permits for a site and finding a locatio n that can be tied into the electric officials said. The company coul be a boon for Arizona in more ways than simplyproviding power. It is using auto component supplierse to build itsengine parts, and officials are talkinh with those suppliers about the possibilitgy of locating facilities in the Southwest to handle the bulk of Stirling’s at least for the firstg few years, Cowman said. “If you can build your manufacturingg close to yourend facilities, that’s going to benefitf everyone,” he said.
Stirling is one of the solar companies that could provide a base for other manufacturers to land inthe Valley, said Barry president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “This is a good example,” he said. “It’x got a small number of peoplse and it hopesto expand, and it coulsd help its suppliers relocate here.” Stirling’s expansion in Arizona depends on state policies. Othee states are offering manufacturing and Arizona’s effort to develop such enticementxs is mired in budget problems. “We reallyh want to grow our business in but we need those Cowman said.