The largest solar thermal energy project in the world is underway near Ivanpah, CA in the Mojave Desert by NRG Energy. At 392 MW of electricity, it will almost double the total commercial solar thermal energy currently generated in the U.S. The project includes three separate plants being built in phases creating 2,650 construction jobs at peak, 86 operations and maintenance jobs and 76 supply-chain jobs across 17 states. It will have an average output of electricity to support 140,000 homes and twice that when operating at maximum capacity. The cleaner generation is expected to save 450,000 tons of annual carbon emissions or 13.5 million tons over the first 30 years. Dry cooling for steam condensing will minimize its water consumption. This Ivanpah project supports California’s goal of 33% renewable energy generation by 2020.
More solar see: InClimate 93, 95 and 103 (April 4, 6 and 14)