Brigh Source Energy's LPT 550 Technology Selected By Nur Energie For Sale Thermal power Plant in Crete

38-Megawatt Solar Power Tower Approved by Greek Regulators 

(OAKLAND, CA) January 20, 2011 BrightSource Energy, Inc. today announced that Nur Energie, a UK-based independent power producer, has selected its LPT 550 energy system for the development of a 38-megawatt solar thermal power plant on the Greek island of Crete. When constructed, the plant will produce enough electricity for approximately 13,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 35,000 tons annually.

The plant will be developed by NUR-MOH SA, a joint venture between Nur Energie and Motor Oil Hellas (MOH), one of the largest corporations in Greece listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. Greeces energy regulators formally approved the plant in December 2010.

After careful consideration, we selected BrightSources LPT 550 energy system because of the technologys superior performance, low impact environmental design and ability to be customized to Cretes unique energy load profile, said Kevin Sara, founder and CEO of Nur Energie. When completed, this will be the largest tower installation and most technologically advanced concentrated solar plant in Europe.

This selection reflects the growing recognition of power towers as the commercial solar thermal technology of choice for energy markets around the world, said John Woolard, president and CEO of BrightSource Energy. Were proud to be working with Nur Energie to provide the people of Crete with highly efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible power.

The LPT 550 solar system produces electricity the same way as traditional power plants by creating high temperature steam to turn a turbine. However, instead of using fossil fuels or nuclear power to create the steam, BrightSource uses thousands of mirrors called heliostats to reflect sunlight onto a boiler filled with water that sits atop a tower. When the sunlight hits the boiler, the water inside is heated and creates high temperature steam. The steam is then piped to a conventional turbine which generates electricity. This fully integrated approach takes advantage of high operating efficiencies and low capital costs, providing reliable and low-cost carbon-free energy.

The LPT 550 solar system is also designed to minimize the solar plants environmental impact, reducing the need for extensive land grading and concrete pads. In order to conserve precious desert water, LPT 550 uses air-cooling to convert the steam back into water, resulting in a 95 percent reduction in water usage compared to conventional wet-cooling in competing technologies. The water is then returned to the boiler in an environmentally-friendly closed process.

In Australia

BrightSource Energy is also active in Australia and are in global partnership with Alstom to develop EPC solar thermal projects around the world.

About BrightSource Energy, Inc.
BrightSource Energy, Inc. provides clean, reliable and low cost solar energy for utility and industrial companies worldwide. The BrightSource Energy team combines nearly three decades of experience designing, building and operating the worlds largest solar energy plants with world-class project development capabilities. The company now has contracted to sell 2610 megawatts of power to be generated using its proprietary solar thermal technology. BrightSource Energys solar plants are designed to minimize their impact on the environment and help customers reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Headquartered in Oakland, Calif., BrightSource Energy is a privately held company with operations in the United States, Israel, and Australia. To learn more about BrightSource Energy and solar thermal energy, visit www.brightsourceenergy.com.