Israel has allotted its first licence for thermal solar-energy plant, as per the announcement made by the Public Utility Authority.

The first solar thermal plant of 100 kilowatts will be built by Edig Solar. Edig Solar uses technology developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. The plant is expected to become operational in March.

As per the information available, Israel's Public Utility Authority also gave its nod for Arava Power to build a 4.9-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant at Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava desert. According to the authority, the licences will be granted for 18 months, at the end of which the plants are expected to have been built, connected to the grid and financially viable, reported the Jerusalem Post.

In the past, it has been mentioned that Edig's technology attracts the sun and concentrates it by way of tiny mirrors on the ground.  The thermal energy generated by the sun drives turbines in a tower, the same turbines that can be powered by traditional fuel, the moment a cloud passes overhead, or at night when the sun sets.

According to Edig, following the completion of its first commercial unit and its connection to the national grid (in December last year), Edig Solar plans on expanding the Arava facility into a 20MW power generating plant (200 base units). Further more, the company is planning to collaborate with international players in setting up its first international installations by 2009 in strategic markets that will enable future growth and expansion.