BrightSource Energy has taken a key step towards construction of its project in California's Mojave Desert. The company has signed a contract with Siemens to purchase the steam turbine generator for BrightSource's first 100MW plant at its Ivanpah Solar Power Complex.

The contract with Siemens is for the supply of a 123 MW fully solar-powered steam turbine generator.

When completed, the turbine is expected to be the largest fully solar-powered steam turbine generator to date.

The Siemens turbine is slated to be delivered in early 2011, and BrightSource expects this first phase of its Ivanpah Solar Power Complex to be operational and supplying solar energy to utilities in the fourth quarter of 2011.

BrightSource is scheduled to begin construction on the Ivanpah site in 2009. Its Ivanpah Solar Power Complex will be comprise three separate solar plants and will produce a combined total of 400 MW of power. Upon completion, the Complex will produce enough clean energy to power the homes of 140,000 PG&E customers and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 500,000 tons per year.