Solar Star
Solar Star | |
---|---|
Location of Solar Star in California | |
Country | United States |
Location | Rosamond, California |
Coordinates | 34°49′50″N 118°23′53″W / 34.83056°N 118.39806°WCoordinates: 34°49′50″N 118°23′53″W / 34.83056°N 118.39806°W |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 2013 |
Commission date | June 19, 2015 |
Owner(s) | BHE Renewables |
Solar field | |
Type | Flat-panel PV |
Site area | 13 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi) |
Power generation | |
Nameplate capacity | 747.3 MWp, 579 MWAC |
Website us |
Solar Star is a 579-megawatt (MWAC) photovoltaic power station near Rosamond, California. Completed in June 2015, it was the world's largest solar farm in terms of installed capacity, using 1.7 million solar panels, made by SunPower and spread over 13 square kilometers (3,200 acres).[1][2][3]
Comparison to similar plants
Compared to other photovoltaic plants of similar size, Solar Star uses a smaller number (1.7 million) of higher efficiency arrays, mounted on single axis trackers. In contrast, the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and the Topaz Solar Farm (550 MW each) use a larger number (roughly 9 million) of non-tracking CdTe photovoltaic modules rather than conventional crystalline silicon PV technology, spread over a larger area (about 25 square kilometers). Both approaches appear commercially viable.[4]
There are a number of other solar photovoltaic plants nearby:
- Antelope Valley Solar Ranch (266 MW from 3.8 million thin film panels)
34°46′N 118°25′W / 34.767°N 118.417°W - Alpine Solar (66 MW AC, thin film panels)[5][6]
34°47′37″N 118°30′44″W / 34.79361°N 118.51222°W - Catalina Solar Project (60 MW, thin film panels)
34°56′N 118°20′W / 34.933°N 118.333°W
Production
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | -- | -- | 14,332 | 28,753 | 36,448 | 38,215 | 35,596 | 36,759 | 37,188 | 42,315 | 31,070 | 24,669 | 325,345 |
2015 | 34,125 | 43,302 | 69,839 | 84,200 | 97,302 | 93,801 | 99,408 | 97,305 | 81,857 | 63,305 | 55,844 | 44,893 | 865,191 |
2016 | 39,867 | 39,296 | 32,636 | 84,802 | 91,786 | 523 | 52,262 | 99,009 | - | - | - | - | 440,181 |
Total | 1,630,717 |
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 14,321 | 19,610 | 30,291 | 42,338 | 44,483 | 52,767 | 52,276 | 50,675 | 40,447 | 32,848 | 380,056 | ||
2015 | 40,769 | 50,582 | 68,531 | 77,036 | 87,210 | 83,183 | 87,909 | 85,625 | 72,530 | 55,497 | 49,895 | 39,635 | 798,402 |
2016 | 34,065 | 56,385 | 53,776 | 74,427 | 89,089 | 65,376 | 95,256 | 86,438 | - | - | - | - | 554,812 |
Total | 1,733,270 |
References
- ↑ "Solar Star, Largest PV Power Plant in the World, Now Operational". GreenTechMedia.com. 24 June 2015.
- ↑ "The Solar Star Projects".
- ↑ "Solar Star I and II".
- ↑ "Desert Sunlight, Another 550MW Solar Farm From First Solar, Now Fully Operational".
- ↑ Kessler, Richard (5 February 2013). "NRG's Alpine Solar project begins operation". ReCharge News. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ↑ Ludikovsky, Kurt. "NRG Alpine Solar Project Nears Completion". Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ↑ Energy Information Administration. "Solar Star 1, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ↑ Energy Information Administration. "Solar Star 2, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Retrieved March 5, 2016.