The plant has a system composed of 300 thousand computer controlled mirrors
The largest solar plant in the world occupies about 12 square miles of federal land near the borders of the states of California and Nevada, us United States.
About Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (Ivanpah Solar Energy Generator System) it's composed by 300 thousand computer controlled mirrors, each with 2 meters high and 3 meters wide, that focus sunlight onto the top of three towers of 140 meters high, where water turns into steam for power turbines.
After being delayed by regulatory and legal issues, the solar power plant, result of a joint effort by NRG Energy, from BrightSource Energy and Google, finally opened for business on the day 13 of February.
According to the note sent by the company, Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is now operational and delivering solar electricity to California customers.
In addition to looking amazing, when the plant is at full capacity its towers will produce a gross total of 392 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, enough energy to provide “clean” electricity to 140 thousand homes in the Californian state and avoid 400 thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of removing 72 thousand road vehicles.
Zero impact?
The plant also has a controversial side. It has been criticized by environmentalists because it will affect the habitat of Gopherus agassizii, a species of desert tortoise that is threatened with extinction.
BrightSource defends itself saying it will invest US$ 56 millions in measures to protect and relocate this animal.
Anyway, these disadvantages must be taken into account.. Studies and more studies must be done, so that their function structures are optimized without permanent damage to nature.
But we must not overlook the importance that plants like this one mean for the future, solar energy is already a concrete reality, the growth of this type of energy only increases efforts for a world (real) sustainable.
Original text (green thinking)