Solar steam boiler receives ASME's “S” certificate

www.manmonthly.com.au
15 June 2009

Ausra, a leading provider of large-scale solar steam systems for electricity generation and industrial processes, has been awarded the "S" Stamp Certificate of Authorization from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for the manufacture of the company's industrial solar steam power boilers.

Ausra is said to be the first and only solar steam power boiler manufacturer to receive this Certificate of Authorization under ASME's Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code. An ASME "S" Stamp indicates that a product conforms to the latest edition of the ASME BPV Code and is considered the industry hallmark of acceptance and certification.

It is recognized in Australia and more than 100 other countries as a means of meeting government safety regulations. "Receiving the 'S' Stamp certification is a milestone that tells our customers that Ausra's solar energy boilers will be manufactured and assembled to meet ASME's stringent standards for safety, quality and reliability," said Ausra Australia CEO Bob Matthews.

"This certificate is a testimony to the high caliber of Ausra's engineering, manufacturing and construction management teams. Ausra is proud to be the first industrial solar energy boiler manufacturer to receive the "S" Stamp Certificate. "This stamp accreditation positions Ausra to immediately begin shipments of our solar energy steam boilers to a diverse range of utility and industrial customers."

With the ASME "S" Stamp Certificate, Ausra is also accredited to use the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors "NB" Stamp for its solar boilers.

Ausra's Next Generation Solar Thermal Installations Ausra's solar thermal steam systems incorporate next-generation Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology to: fuel standalone solar thermal and solar-natural gas hybrid power plants, augment power generation for new and existing fossil-fired power plants and generate direct solar steam for industrial applications, including enhanced oil recovery, desalination and food processing.

The company's Kimberlina Solar Thermal Energy Plant in Bakersfield, CA is the first solar thermal power plant to come online in California in nearly 20 years. The facility generates electricity for California's peak summer demand period. Kimberlina is also the first solar energy boiler to be permitted in California and serves as a testing and demonstration facility for Ausra's solar steam customers.

In Australia, Ausra provides solar-generated steam for the New South Wales-based utility Macquarie Generation's 2,000-MW Liddell coal-fired power plant, allowing the utility to generate electricity with less emissions.

To learn more about Ausra and solar thermal energy, visit www.ausra.com.