Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ausra do?

Ausra designs, manufactures, installs and operates solar steam generators for customers around the world. Our solar thermal systems provide reliable, scalable and cost-competitive renewable energy solutions for both power and industrial steam customers.

What is Ausra's technology?

Ausra's zero-emissions solar steam generators produce steam directly from the sun. The company's core technology, the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector solar collector and steam generation system, uses flat, modular mirrors to focus the sun’s heat onto elevated receivers, which consist of a system of tubes through which water flows. The concentrated sunlight boils the water in the tubes, generating high-pressure steam for use in power generation and industrial steam applications.

Who are Ausra's customers?

Ausra serves power generation and industrial steam customers. The company's first customer was Macquarie Generation, the largest power producer in Australia. Ausra's solar steam generators provide steam to help fuel Macquarie's coal-fired power station. This is the world’s first solar/coal-fired power augmentation facility.

Where are Ausra's solar thermal energy installations located?

Ausra is currently pursuing solar thermal installations in the western United States, Australia, and the Middle East. The company has a solar-coal-fired power augmentation facility in operation in Australia and operates a solar thermal research and demonstration power plant in California. The company's manufacturing facilities are located in Las Vegas, Nevada and Singleton, Australia.

What is Ausra's solar system footprint?

Ausra's solar thermal energy technology is the most land efficient in operation—generating 1.5-to-3 times more power per acre than any other solar technology. This high energy density translates into lower costs, a smaller environmental footprint and greater access to existing power plant and industrial sites.

How does Ausra serve power and steam customers reliably?

Ausra supplies solar steam equipment for power generation and industrial steam customers. Unlike photovoltaic energy resources that immediately shut down during periods of transient cloud coverage, Ausra's solar steam generators retain heat, allowing for a more seamless integration with the electric grid. For standalone power plants, Ausra can also include a natural gas boiler back-up design. These solar-natural gas hybrid plants can meet the same dispatchability levels as a conventional power plant.

How long does it take to install an Ausra solar thermal energy system?

By using standard, commodity materials and high-volume, automated production, Ausra can quickly scale-up to meet our customers' needs. Depending upon the size of the project, Ausra can install a solar thermal field in 6-18 months.

What does "Ausra" mean?

Our company is part of the dawn of a new energy age that will employ our oldest energy source—the sun. Ausra was the Lithuanian goddess of the dawn, descended from the ancient Indo-European goddess of the sunrise "Hausos" or "Ausus." The word survives in modern Lithuanian meaning "dawn." The letters "AUS" suggest "from the east," but for us they reflect the Australian heritage of our technology. The word also contains "US," alluding to our headquarters in the United States. Finally, "RA" is the earlier version of the Egyptian sun god.