In the Mojave Desert sits the Ivanpah Solar Power Plant. The power plant plans to shut off two-thirds of its output by 2026. Some of the factors that caused the early shutdown are economic problems, competition from other solar solutions, and environmental impact.
2014 saw the rise of the Ivanpah Solar Power Plant. At the time of its construction, it was the biggest solar power plant on the planet, taking up over 3,500 acres of land. The plant was thought to have a bright future, but now that’s fizzling up.
Shutting Down
NRG Energy, Kelvin Energy, and Google are the owners of the power plant, and have agree to shut down two of the three energy units at the facility finding an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Potential purchase contracts that would have run for the next 14 years have been terminated. The reason behind one unit staying operational is that Southern California Edison still has a contract with the power plant and will keep buying power from them.
A Host Of Problems
The solar power plant cost a fortune to develop (around 2,2 billion dollars), and over a decade, the expected output of the power plant is less than was promised. Pacific Gas and Electric Company have severed their agreements with the power plant.
The power plant was built in an era when their systems were state-of-the-art. However, recent developments in photovoltaic solar panels have shown that a much cheaper alternative exists. This means the facility has been in a decline for years.
Environmental Impacts
Most would think that a solar power plant would have no drawbacks when it came to the environment, but around 6,000 birds perish every year due to the intense heat that the panels generate. Other wildlife has also been affected, such as desert tortoises, earning the ire of conservation groups.
Many environmental groups have condemned Ivanpah, calling it a financial failure as well as a huge environmental hazard. Many argue that it should be a lesson in balancing both ecological and industrial needs.
The Future And Its Legacy
There are also plans for current employees of the plant to be transfered to other positions inside of the same company. Those that cannot be repositioned may have their contracts terminated, with a severence pay included. The company wants to stress that they don’t want to leave their workers in the dark.
Although the plant had a relatively short life, it was a great achievement for America at the time. The power plant, all on its own, doubled America’s solar power capacity and had many high-profile investors.
Meeting Energy Demands
Although the power plant is going to be partly decommissioned, there are future plans for the site. As photovoltaic solar energy is more cost-effective, the plant may be retrofitted with this new technology.
With such a high profile power plant closing, many investors are worried about the ability for power companies to meet California’s energy demands. Pacific Gas and Electric Company have assured residents and investors that they can meet the demand and will strive to give Californians cost-effective power.
A Continuing Trend
Technology is advancing rapidly, sometimes faster than companies can keep up. Ivanpah is a perfect example of this, becoming outdated just a few years after being built.
With the premature shutdown if Ivanpah, it highlights a continuing trend in the advancement of technology. A redirection of efforts to focus on impactful solutions with a smaller scale would prevent a loss on investment in future. The site is a testament to the closure of one energy solution and the beginning of the next.
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