http://venturebeat.disqus.com/News about Tech, Business and InnovationenMon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:28 -0000http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/01/brightsource-lands-the-largest-solar-deal-yet/#comment-14684184<p>Response to Qdub</p><p>The current estimate is that a coal plant costs around $1.5M per megawatt for construction. So the solar plant is about double initial cost. The financial gain in the solar equation comes from the cost of fuel -- zero -- compared to coal. A small coal plant (350MW) will use a million tons of coal every year. Coal prices vary depending on your locale (around $15-60/ton) but you can count spending $20Mil/year for fuel. At that rate it doesn't take the solar thermal plant long to catch up.</p>JohnMon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:28 -0000http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/01/brightsource-lands-the-largest-solar-deal-yet/#comment-14684183<p>Chris:</p><p>Again, with the excellent Clean Tech reportage! Thanks for this piece and the links. I love this kind of innovation and I have high hopes for BrightSource's success.</p>Anthony KuhnTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:22:15 -0000http://venturebeat.com/2008/04/01/brightsource-lands-the-largest-solar-deal-yet/#comment-14684182<p>So we're looking at $2.8MM up front capex for each MW. Any comparables with other sources of grid energy?</p>Q dubTue, 01 Apr 2008 09:32:00 -0000