Large Solar Energy Projects
The table below provides information about projects that have filed applications under the Energy Commission's jurisdiction (thermal power plant projects 50 MW or larger).
California's electric utility companies are required to use renewable energy to produce 33 percent of their power by 2020. A main source of renewable power will be solar energy.
Solar thermal projects (above 50 MW) require approvals from both the BLM and the Energy Commission prior to construction. Therefore, to provide joint National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review and a more efficient process, the BLM and Energy Commission have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF file, 14 pages, 140 kb). This MOU also has attachments listing the solar projects the BLM is aware of (as of July 2007) and the time line for the joint review process.
Additional Information
Solar Thermal Projects Under Review
As of September 14, 2012
Arranged by Date Application For Certification Was Approved
| Project Name and Applicant |
Location | Size & Technology (megawatts) |
Lead Agency | Status* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorville 2 Hybrid Power Project City of Victorville |
Victorville | 563 MW 513 MW natural gas 50 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC filed 2/28/07 Approved 7/16/08 |
| Beacon Solar Energy Project Beacon Solar LLC |
Kern County | 250 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC filed 3/14/08 Approved 8/25/2010 |
| Abengoa Mojave Solar Project Abengoa Solar Inc. |
San Bernardino County | 250 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 8/10/2009 Approved 9/8/2010 |
| Blythe Solar Power Project NextEra Blythe Energy Center LLC |
Riverside County | 1,000 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 8/24/2009 Approved 9/15/2010 |
| Ivanpah Solar Solar Partners/Brightsource |
San Bernardino County | 370 MW solar tower |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC filed 8/31/2007 Approved 9/22/2010 |
| Imperial Valley Solar Project (Formerly SES Solar Two Project) Imperial Valley Solar LLC |
Imperial County | 709 MW Stirling engine |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC filed 6/30/2008 Approved 9/29/2010 |
| Genesis Solar Genesis Solar LLC / NextEra™ Energy Resources LLC |
Riverside County | 250 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 8/31/2009 Approved 9/29/2010 |
| Calico Solar Project (Formerly SES Solar One Project) Calico Solar LLC/Tessera Solar (formerly Stirling Energy Systems) |
San Bernardino County | 663.5 MW Stirling engine |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 12/2/2008 Approved 10/28/2010 |
| Palen Solar Power Project Nalep Solar Project I, LLC |
Riverside County | 500 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 8/24/2009 Approved 12/15/2010 |
| Rice Solar Energy Project Rice Solar LLC / SolarReserve LLC |
Riverside County | 150 MW central tower |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 10/21/2009 Approved 12/15/2010 |
| City of Palmdale Hybrid Gas-Solar City of Palmdale |
Palmdale | 570 MW 520 MW natural gas 50 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | APPROVED AFC Filed 8/4/08 Approved 8/10/2011 |
| Projects Approved - MW | 4242.5 MW | |||
| Carrizo Energy Solar Farm Carrizo Energy LLC |
San Luis Obispo County | Withdrawn | Energy Commission | Withdrawn |
| San Joaquin Solar 1 & 2 San Joaquin Solar LLC |
Fresno County | Withdrawn | Energy Commission | Withdrawn |
| Ridgecrest Solar Power Project Solar Millennium |
Kern County | 250 MW solar trough |
Energy Commission | Under Review AFC Filed 9/1/2009 |
| Hidden Hills Solar Electric Generating System BrightSource Energy Inc. |
Inyo County | 500 MW central tower |
Energy Commission | Under Review AFC Filed 8/5/2011 |
| Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating Facility BrightSource Energy Inc. |
Riverside County | 750 MW central tower |
Energy Commission | Under Review AFC Filed 10/14/2011 |
| Projects Under Review - MW | 1500 MW | |||
|
* AFC = Application For Certification is the license application filed with California Energy Commission for thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger. |
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Earlier Large, Solar Projects Producing Power
Prior to the Renewable Portfolio Standards in 2002, 13 solar thermal power projects were planned in California, with 11 of those filing applications with the Energy Commission. Nine projects (Solar Energy Generating Station - SEGS I to IX), totaling 354 MW, were built. SEGS III to IX are owned by NextEra™ Energy Resources (formerly FPL Energy), and SEGS I and II are owned by Cogentrix Solar Services - a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy LLC (Charlotte, NC), which purchased former owner Sunray Energy Inc. in early 2009.
One large photovoltaic (PV) array was built by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District near its Rancho Seco Nuclear Plant. It went on line in August 1984 and has an installed capacity of 3.19 MW.
| Project Name | Capacity In MW | CEC Docket Number | Location | County | Date Certified | On-Line Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLAR 100 | 110.0 | 81-AFC-4 | San Bernardino | 12/29/82 | Never built - land use issues | |
| Luz SEGS I Solar/Nat Gas |
13.8 | Local Jurisdiction Under 50 MW |
Daggett | San Bernardino | 12/20/84 | |
| Luz SEGS II Solar/Nat Gas |
30 | Local Jurisdiction Under 50 MW |
Daggett | San Bernardino | 12/31/85 | |
| Luz SEGS III-VII Solar/Nat Gas) |
150.0 5 X 30 MW |
87-AFC-1 | Kramer Junction | San Bernardino | 5/25/88 | 2/1/89 |
| Luz SEGS VIII Solar/Nat Gas |
80.0 | 88-AFC-1 | Harper Dry Lake | San Bernardino | 3/29/89 | 12/1/89 |
| Luz SEGS IX Solar/Nat Gas |
80.0 | 89-AFC-1 | Harper Dry Lake | San Bernardino | 2/14/90 | 10/1/90 |
| Luz SEGS X Solar/Nat Gas |
80.0 | 89-AFC-1 | Harper Dry Lake | San Bernardino | Suspended 5/13/1992 |
Construction halted - company bankruptcy |
| Luz SEGS XI Solar/Nat Gas |
80.0 | 89-AFC-2 | Harper Dry Lake | San Bernardino | Suspended 5/13/1992 |
Never built - company bankruptcy |
| Luz SEGS XII Solar/Nat Gas |
80.0 | 91-AFC-1 | Harper Dry Lake | San Bernardino | Suspended 5/13/1992 |
Never built - company bankruptcy |
| Solar One and Solar Two |
10.0 | n/a | Daggett | San Bernardino | n/a | The Solar One central tower research facility was completed in 1981 and was operational from 1982 to 1986. Solar Two added more mirrors and was operational from 1995 to 1999. |
Solar Two - Aerial view of the Solar One & Two facility near Daggett, California. The 10 megawatt solar tower research facility was closed in 1999. Picture courtesy of Google Earth.