Solar Energy Generating Systems
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Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is the name given to nine solar power plants in California's Mojave Desert, where insolation is among the best available in the United States. SEGS I-VII are located at Kramer Junction, and SEGS VIII and IX are at Harper Lake and Barstow respectively. In 2005, all but SEGS I and SEGS II were acquired by FPL Energy. [1]
The installation uses parabolic trough solar thermal technology along with natural gas to generate electricity. The plants produce 354MW, making the system the largest solar plant of any kind in the world.[2] By comparison, the largest photovoltaic plant produces 12MW,[3] although a 40MW PV installation is under construction in Germany[4] and a 154MW PV Solar power station in Victoria, Australia, is planned.[5]
The SEGS power plants were commissioned between 1984 and 1991. The facility has a total of 400,000 mirrors and covers 1,000 acres (4 km²). SEGS VIII (80MW) and SEGS IX (80MW) are the largest solar power plants individually and collectively in the world. [6]
[edit] See also
- Nevada Solar One
- Solar power
- Solar power plants in the Mojave Desert
- Solar thermal energy
- Stirling Energy Systems
- Trough concentrator
