Mount Signal Solar

Photovoltaic power station in Imperial County, California From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Signal Solar, also known as Imperial Valley Solar Project, is a 794 MWp (614 MWAC) photovoltaic power station west of Calexico, California, United States, in the southern Imperial Valley, near the Mexican border. The facility was developed and constructed by 8minutenergy Renewables in three phases, with two completed as of 2018, and the third in 2020. It is one of the world's largest PV solar farms with a capacity of about 800 MWp (600 MWAC). The project has been supported by several environmental groups, as the power station was built on low-productivity farmland.[1]

Quick Facts Country, Location ...
Mount Signal Solar
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CountryUnited States
LocationCalexico, Imperial County, California
Coordinates32°40′24″N 115°38′23″W
StatusUnits 1 & 3 Operational
Commission dateMay 2014 (MS1)
July 2018 (MS3)
2020 (MS2)
Construction cost$365 million (Unit 1)
OperatorsTerraForm Power (MS1)
Capital Dynamics (MS3)
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area1,940 acres (790 ha) (MS1)
2,000 acres (810 ha) (MS3)
Power generation
Units operational3million FS Series3 (MS1)
2.8million FS Series 4 (MS2)
Nameplate capacity794 MWp, 614 MWAC
Capacity factor29.7%(average 2015–2017, MS1)
Annual net output1,200 GW·h
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History

Summarize
Perspective

Originally the project was called SES Solar Two, was to be of Stirling engine design, and was approved by California Energy Commission on September 29, 2010.[2] AES Solar subsequently changed the name to Imperial Valley Solar, but later notified the commission on June 30, 2011 of its intention to no longer pursue the project.[3] AES Solar and 8minuteenergy Renewables subsequently announced on February 17, 2012 their plan to revive the project, changing the technology from solar thermal to photovoltaic, and changing the project name to Mount Signal Solar.[4]

The first phase started construction in 2012 and went online in 2014, providing 266 MWp (206 MWAC) to San Diego Gas & Electric under a 25-year agreement.[5] More than 3 million thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules from First Solar and 138 skids designed and manufactured by Elettronica Santerno are used.[6] It was the world's largest solar project using single-axis trackers to follow the path of the sun upon completion.[7][8] The cost for this first unit was $365million.

Phases two and three consist of 200 MWp and 328 MWp of power, respectively, on 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) contracted to Southern California Edison.[9] Phase 2 was commissioned in January 2020,[9] while Phase 3 went online in July 2018.[10][11] Phase 3 consists of 2.8 million Series 4 thin film panels from First Solar.[11]

Project units

The Mount Signal Solar Farm consists of three units, or construction phases:

Electricity production

Mount Signal 1 nameplate capacities: 260 MWdc, 206 MWac
annual net output: 537 GW·h (avg 2015–2017)
capacity factor: 29.7%

More information Year, Jan ...
Generation (MW·h) of Mount Signal 1[16]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2013 14,32422,836 37,160
2014 22,74028,99652,99550,21654,04945,77141,33354,39149,42141,74134,31424,588 500,555
2015 26,78536,00248,98854,67057,13557,62258,30656,13541,83240,18332,88028,148 538,685
2016 28,73239,22145,76351,49562,32160,27460,76254,16945,60639,60528,03820,539 536,525
2017 21,26423,75144,39847,37360,41265,43759,58955,12851,37147,32829,25430,779 536,083
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See also

References

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