Ivanpah Solar Power Station is Now Functioning
Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is the largest solar power plant in the world. It costs more than $2.2 milliard provided by the US Department of Energy ($1.6 milliard), NRG Energy ($300 million) and other smaller investors. The project was developed by BrightSource Energy and Bechtel.
The most interesting thing here is that the plant started just yesterday – on February 13th, 2014. The Ivanpah power plant utilizes 300 000 mirrors which are guided by a computer in order to capture the maximum of the sunlight power. The power plant is of solar thermal type, which means that these mirrors forward the sunlight to three towers. Water is flowing through this tower and the concentrated sunlight turns the liquid into steam, which propels power producing turbines. All towers provide around 392 MW of electricity, which is sufficient for 140 000 households and reduces carbon dioxide emissions with 400 000 metric tons.
“Cleantech innovations such as Ivanpah are critical to establishing America’s leadership in large-scale, clean-energy technology that will keep our economy globally competitive over the next several decades,” said Tom Doyle, president, NRG Solar. “We see Ivanpah changing the energy landscape by proving that utility-scale solar is not only possible, but incredibly beneficial to both the economy and in how we produce and consume energy. Whether it’s partnering, developing or investing, NRG will continue to provide a diverse set of solutions and technologies to get the U.S. to the ultimate goal of providing affordable, reliable clean energy for everyone.”
The power plant is located in the Mojave Desert, California, 64 km (40 miles) southwest of Las Vegas.
“Achieving commercial operation is a result of a well-coordinated effort between the Ivanpah project affiliates and Bechtel,” said Toby Seay, president of Bechtel’s power global business unit. “Consistent teamwork with a focus on safety and quality is key to executing a project of this size and complexity. It was a privilege to be a part of an iconic project that will bring clean, sustainable power to tens of thousands of households for years to come.”