Solar Star

Last updated
Solar Star
Solar Star
CountryUnited States
Location Rosamond, California
Coordinates 34°49′50″N118°23′53″W / 34.83056°N 118.39806°W / 34.83056; -118.39806
StatusOperational
Construction began2013
Commission date June 19, 2015
Owner BHE Renewables
Operator SunPower
Solar farm
Type Flat-panel PV
Site area3,200 acres (1,300 ha)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 747.3  MWp, [1] 579  MWAC [2]
Capacity factor 32.8% (average 2017-2019)
Annual net output 1,663  GW·h, 520 MW·h/acre (average 2017-2019)
External links
Website us.sunpower.com

Solar Star is a 579-megawatt (MWAC) photovoltaic power station near Rosamond, California, United States, that is operated and maintained by SunPower Services. When completed in June 2015, it was the world's largest solar farm in terms of installed capacity, using 1.7 million solar panels, made by SunPower and spread over 13 square kilometers (3,200 acres). [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Comparison to similar plants

Compared to other photovoltaic plants of similar size, Solar Star uses a smaller number (1.7 million) of large form-factor, high-wattage, high-efficiency, higher cost crystalline silicon modules, mounted on single axis trackers. In contrast, the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and the Topaz Solar Farm (550 MW each) use a larger number (roughly 9 million) of smaller form-factor, lower wattage, lower efficiency, lower cost thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules, mounted on fixed-tilt arrays and spread over a larger land area. Both approaches appear commercially viable. [4]

There are a number of other solar photovoltaic plants nearby:

Electricity production

Solar Star 1's nameplate capacities are 398 MWdc and 314 MWac.

Generation (MW·h) of Solar Star 1 [7]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
201414,33228,75336,44838,21535,59636,75937,18842,31531,07024,669325,345
201534,12569,83984,20097,30293,80199,40897,31581,85763,30555,84444,893821,889
201639,86739,29632,63684,80291,78651,52352,26299,00985,11067,45650,14136,270679,158
201741,43248,66779,57486,74199,308105,230102,02691,37582,00872,83750,16346,171905,532
201844,31460,32367,87188,462102,351105,67497,20396,44584,32066,84149,27543,626906,705
201940,95650,11270,90978,74182,254100,807100,508100,12782,96574,35849,29431,357862,388
202050,54761,60256,73360,814229,696
Average Annual Production (years 2017–2019)891,541

Solar Star 2's nameplate capacities are 350 MWdc and 266 MWac.

Generation (MW·h) of Solar Star 2 [8]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
201414,32119,61030,29142,33844,48352,76752,27650,67540,44732,848380,056
201540,76950,58268,53177,03687,21083,18387,90985,62572,53055,49749,89539,635798,402
201634,06556,38553,77674,42789,08965,37695,25686,43873,22658,39045,75235,668767,848
201736,82442,56969,73676,82471,49190,48584,70278,02371,11962,19943,42840,789768,189
201838,74353,33360,03078,27590,72290,72981,90381,81474,10359,71642,77337,987790,128
201935,80043,86762,15669,31672,17888,92790,39787,61072,79465,45043,78624,485756,766
202044,12552,91850,63054,672202,345
Average Annual Production (years 2017–2019)771,694

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Solar Star I and II". Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  2. 1 2 "The Solar Star Projects" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-06-21.
  3. "Solar Star, Largest PV Power Plant in the World, Now Operational". GreenTechMedia.com. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. Wesoff, Eric (January 14, 2015). "Desert Sunlight, Another 550MW Solar Farm From First Solar, Now Fully Operational". Greentech Media. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  5. Kessler, Richard (5 February 2013). "NRG's Alpine Solar project begins operation". ReCharge News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  6. Gunther, Edgar A. (January 9, 2013). "NRG Alpine Solar Project Nears Completion". GUNTHER Portfolio. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  7. "Solar Star 1, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  8. "Solar Star 2, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.