| Large scale solar power projects are popping up | | | | Gigawatt hours. 34 more projects are in the pipeline |
| everywhere in the US despite the economic downturn. | | | | according to the federal bureau of land management. |
| With largescale solar power production, the | | | | Concentrating Solar Power |
| government will be able to realize its goal of a smarter | | | | A 107 MW project has been signed with Pacific Gas |
| grid as well as independence from dirty fuel sources at | | | | and Electric near Coalinga California to produce |
| a much quicker rate. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) | | | | concentrating solar power. It is expected to be a |
| plants are another advancement which generates up | | | | hybrid project using both solar power and biomass fuel |
| to 100 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity. | | | | when the sun is not shining. These projects use |
| In terms of photovoltaic power production, even 1MW | | | | parabolic troughs made of reflectors or mirrors to |
| of solar electricity is considered a big project. | | | | concentrate sunlight increasing its efficiency in |
| Commercial developments such as the Pepco | | | | converting sunlight to usable DC power. |
| contract to install solar panels on the roof of the | | | | For the US Army, the goal is to produce a |
| Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey are | | | | concentrating solar power plant that generates |
| also helping the movement. In Blythe, California, | | | | electricity keeping it from relying on grid power. This |
| grounded mounted solar systems are being installed | | | | serves as insurance against disruptions in the electrical |
| which will sell its power to Southern California Edison. | | | | grid. |
| Solar Thermal Power Plants | | | | Another firm called SoalrReserve is implementing an |
| Because of California's mandate that utilities acquire | | | | innovative project using concentrating mirrors, molten |
| 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2017, | | | | salt, and a 600 foot tower. In the plan, the solar |
| many utilities are facilitating the construction of solar | | | | concentrators will heat up the molten salt which flows |
| thermal power plants. In CA, the SEGS thermal power | | | | to a storage tank where the steam creates power via |
| plant produces 354MW of electricity. Sterling Energy | | | | turbines. The turbines generate electricity in much the |
| Systems has also built a large scale project which will | | | | same way that traditional coal fired plants function. The |
| supply 500MW by 2012. The electricity will be sold to | | | | capacity of the plant will be 100MW enough to power |
| Southern California Edison as well as San Diego Gas | | | | approximately 50,000 homes. |
| and Electric. The annual output is expected to be 1,046 | | | | |