Renewables

Nevada, United States of America

Nevada's solar thermal plant powers 14,000 homes cutting 100,000 tCO2 annually

What is it?

Nevada Solar One is the world's third largest solar thermal power plant, generating 130 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity to 14,000 homes per year and averting 100,000 tCO2e annually. The new plant showcases the latest in solar technology and confirms the potential of solar thermal as a reliable and affordable source of clean energy. State policies, support from the Governor, and advances in technology have been essential in making this source of ‘new power’ a reality.

How does it work?

Nevada Solar One is a commercial-scale solar energy power plant, generating 64MW of clean energy. The facility is made up of 280 acres of mirrored troughs that concentrate the desert sunlight, converting it into thermal energy, then used to create steam for electrical power generation. Electricity generated at the plant is sold to the grid. The facility is the world’s first solar thermal plant to be built in 15 years and uses the latest solar heat technology.

It is wholly owned by Spain's renewable energy giant, Acciona - which acquired a 55% share in the original developer, Solargenix. Nevada Solar One was built by Acciona’s solar subsidiary Acciona Solar Power. The facility cost USD 266 million.

Application

The global outlook for solar thermal energy has changed significantly as a result of:

• Rising energy prices and global climate change
• Increases in EU funding for renewable energies in the late 1990’s, which reignited R#amp;D largely in Spain and Germany, with US involvement.
• Feed-in tariffs which have made it affordable and achievable to plan and build three new plants.
• Increased R#amp;D, most notably America (for Parabolic Troughs and Dish systems) and Australia (for CLFR).
• Four states in the US southwest —California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico— are also investing time and money into solar thermal.