Mojave Solar Project
| Mojave Solar Project | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Mojave Desert, California |
| Coordinates | 35°0′40″N 117°19′30″W / 35.01111°N 117.32500°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | September 2011 |
| Commission date | December 1, 2014 |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | CSP |
| CSP technology | Parabolic trough |
| Collectors | 2256 (SCAs) |
| Total collector area | 1,559,347 square metres (385.323 acres) |
| Site resource | 2,685 kW·h/m2/yr |
| Site area | 1,765 acres (714 ha) |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 2 x 140 MWe (gross) |
| Nameplate capacity | 250 MW |
| Capacity factor | 26.5% (2016–2020) |
| Annual net output | 579 GW·h |
| External links | |
| Website | mojave solar project |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
The Mojave Solar Project (MSP) is a concentrated solar power (CSP) facility in the Mojave Desert in California, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Barstow. Surrounding the hamlet of Lockhart, Mojave Solar is adjacent to Harper Lake and the SEGS VIII–IX solar plant.
The site was originally reserved for the planned, never built, SEGS IX and XII. For 15 years following its construction in 1990, SEGS VIII–IX was the largest commercial solar power plant in the world, generating around 160 MW at its peak. It is one of three separately owned sites within 40 miles (64 km) of one another, that make up the nine solar fields in the Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS #1 and 2 are at Daggett, and #3 through 7 are at Kramer Junction). Harper Lake was the last of these built, and is designated as SEGS #8 and 9. It is still online, but has been surpassed by other newer facilities, including the Mojave Solar Project.
MSP, with a combined nameplate capacity of 250 MW (gross 280 MW), is made of two, independently operable, solar fields. The power plant cost an estimated $1.6 billion in total and entered commercial operation in December 2014. The developer, Abengoa, has successfully secured a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the US government for the project. The plant is expected to generate 617,000 MWh of power annually, enough power for more than 88,000 households and to prevent the emission of over 430 kilotons of CO2 a year. Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to a 25-year power purchase agreement.
The plant was commissioned on 1 December 2014.