Recently one of the biggest solar plants in the world announced that the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is now operational and delivering solar electricity to California customers.

All Three Units of 392 megawatt Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Now Delivering Solar Power to California’s Electric Grid. At full capacity, the facility’s trio of 450-foot high towers produces a gross total of 392 megawatts (MW) of solar power, enough electricity to provide 140,000 Californiahomes with clean energy and avoid 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to removing 72,000 vehicles off the road. (Source)

The process is straight forward and it ensures clean renewable energy.

The software controlled “mirror panels” automatically adjust to ensure maximum exposure.

The solar receiver use the concentrated sunlight to boil water and create steam.

The steam runs a turbine that generates the electricity.

Electricity is stored in termal energy storage for controlled transmission to the grid.

All three plants combined, generate enough power to fuel 140,000 homes every day. A coal, oil or methane plant will need to burn 13 MILLION TONS of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to power that many homes for 25 years.

The plant covers 5.5 square miles and utilizes over 300,000 mirrors.

Sources:

Images: phx.corporate-ir.net

brightsourceenergy.com