The revolutionary Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System located in the Mojave desert 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas has now produced its first output of energy after its Unit 1 station was synced to the power grid for the first time. The project’s 173,500 reflective heliostat mirrors have been positioned in place and “steam blow” testing in which the massive field of mirrors is focused on the elevated boiler has achieved the system’s desired temperatures, pressures and flow rates.
When it officially goes on line later this year, Ivanpah will be the largest solar thermal electricity plant in the world. Owned by NRG Solar, Google and BrightSource Energy, the project incorporates high-temperature insulation manufactured by IIG throughout, including the pipe, boilers, tanks and manifolds used to transform the sun’s energy into steam-generated electricity.
View the stunning Ivanpah slideshow posted by BrightSource on Flickr...