X

Ivanpah solar plant starts delivering electricity (pictures)

A solar thermal plant -- owned by NRG Energy, Google, and BrightSource Energy -- is pumping power to California's electric grid.

Carrie Mihalcik
Carrie was a managing editor at CNET focused on breaking and trending news. She'd been reporting and editing for more than a decade, including at the National Journal and Current TV.
Carrie Mihalcik
3247_ivanpah_mingasson_1_620w.jpg
1 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Ivanpah solar thermal plant

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System -- jointly owned by NRG Energy, Google, and BrightSource Energy -- started delivering power to California's electric grid on Thursday. The solar thermal plant, which covers approximately 3,500 acres in Southern California, creates high-temperature steam to drive power generators.

4066_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
2 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Three towers

The plant has three 450-foot high towers that can produce a gross total of 392 megawatts of solar power, according to plant operator NRG Energy.
4649_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
3 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Many, many mirrors

Surrounding the towers are more than 300,000 software-controlled mirrors.
sedc2_620w.jpg
4 of 10 BrightSource Energy

'Power tower' tech

The mirrors reflect the sunlight to boilers at the top of the towers, which creates high-temperature steam that then turns a turbine, according to BrightSource.
4199_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
5 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Pumping electricity

The Ivanpah plant generates enough electricity to supply 140,000 homes, said NRG Energy.
4266_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
6 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Pipes

The plant accounts for nearly 30 percent of all solar thermal energy in the US and is the largest solar project of its kind in the world, according to NRG Energy.
4689_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
7 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Reflecting the sun

Construction on the plant, which sits on federal land, started in October 2010 and cost $2.2 billion.
4997_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
8 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Mirror, mirror in the desert

An up-close look at the plant's garage-door size mirrors.
4714_ivanpah_mingasson_620.jpg
9 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Waiting for rays

Ivanpah is the first plant to use BrightSource's "power tower" technology to produce electricity, said NRG Energy.
unit_1_panoramic_620w.jpg
10 of 10 BrightSource Energy

Mountain backdrop

Located in Ivanpah Dry Lake, Calif., the plant sits on public desert land.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos