Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that an Albuquerque company has been awarded over $4 million to conduct solar energy research and development.

Skyfuel, Inc. will use the funding to develop a low-cost Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) system.  CSP technologies concentrate the sun's energy and capture that energy as heat, which then drives an engine or turbine to produce electrical power.  CSP plants can include low-cost energy storage, allowing them to provide electricity even when the sun is not shining.

"Research and development into renewable energy technologies is vital to ensuring we can meet the country's future energy needs.  I am pleased the federal government in investing in this Albuquerque company," Bingaman said.