The future of renewable energy technology has consistently been a sphere of innovation, prompted by the urgent need to address climate change and decrease the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. Heeding this call, two American companies joined forces to develop the world’s largest solar thermal facility, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS). Its goal? To harness the power of sunlight and produce incredible quantities of clean, renewable energy.
ISEGS uses the latest in advanced heliostat technology to harness sunlight
Developed by BrightSource Energy and Bechtel, with additional financial backing provided by NRG Energy and Google, ISEGS is situated at the base of Clark Mountain in southern California’s arid Mojave Desert. The three-unit facility stretches across approximately 3,500 acres and stands at a height of 459 feet.
Each solar unit, named Power Plant 1, Power Plant 2, and Power Plant 3, respectively, utilizes sunlight to produce energy, albeit in different quantities due to their varying sizes and capacities. Additionally, each unit comes equipped with their own two-mirror heliostat array and receiver.
Power Plant 1 is equipped with 53,500 heliostats and generates up to 120 MW. In comparison, Power Plants 2 and 3 are equipped with 60,000 heliostats each, which means that they both produce 133 MW. Altogether, ISEGS generates an impressive 386 megawatts from its 173,000 heliostats.; in total, 347,000 mirrors capture sunlight, concentrate it onto the receivers atop the central towers, and convert it into usable energy.
Innovative steam turbines are the driving force behind ISEGS’ energy conversion process
Located in each solar unit lies a Rankine-cycle reheat steam turbine. Once the receivers capture and absorb sunlight, this energy is converted into heat, which boils water in order to produce steam.
Subsequently, the steam powers the turbines. This generates electricity, which is then used to supply power to thousands of homes and businesses on a large scale.
To help the solar units operate at optimal temperatures, they are each fitted with two natural, gas-fired steam boilers. These are important to ensure that the turbines are maintained and energy production continues, particularly during periods of low sunlight or cloudy weather.
Dry cooling systems are also incorporated in each of the units to minimize water usage. For this reason, they are restricted to a combined 100 acres of water annually for plant operations.
ISEGS is changing the energy landscape one mirror at a time
ISEGS was formally opened in February 2014. At the time, Tom Doyle, the president of NRG Energy, expressed confidence in the facility’s potential to effectively transform the “energy landscape” of sustainable, renewable energy.
“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,” said Doyle.
Since then, ISEGS has been able to generate enough electricity to power approximately 140,000 Californian households. Due to the facility’s layout, areas of vegetation are at little risk of being harmed while the facility is operating. Additionally, air-cooled condensers are used to convert steam back into water, which ensures that scarce water resources are being conserved.
Overall, ISEGS stands not only as an effective power generator, but it also stands as a beacon of hope in the world that is searching for viable sustainability solutions. It is heartening to see major companies such as NRG Energy and Google collaborating together to invest their monies in advanced green technology, fostering innovation across various sectors. All in all, ISEGS sets a huge precedent for similar projects worldwide. We can only hope that these projects will also be able to make a positive impact.