Topaz Solar Farm
Encyclopedia
Topaz Solar Farm is a proposed 550 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic power plant, to be built by First Solar
, Inc. (thin film CdTe solar module maker) in the Carrizo Plain
, northwest of California Valley
at a cost of over $1 billion. On August 14, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric announced an agreement to buy all the power from the power plant.
Commenting on this project and a nearby 250 MW project announced at the same time, Daniel Kammen
, the director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at University of California, Berkeley
, said "This scale is ten times larger than what was being talked about a while ago".
OptiSolar, the instigator of the project, had optioned 9.5 mi2 of ranchland,
In November 2009, First Solar announced that it had purchased options to an additional 640 acres (259 ha) from Ausra's
canceled Carrizo Energy Solar Farm. First Solar would reconfigure the project to minimize the use of land covered by the Williamson Act
.
The project would utilize thin-film PV panels designed and manufactured by First Solar. The project would deliver approximately 1,100 gigawatt-hours (GW·h) annually of renewable energy
. The plant's power would be generated during the middle of the day, when demand for electricity — and price — is much higher than at night. The project is expected to begin construction in 2011 and be fully operational by 2014. California utilities are mandated to get 33% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
On August 14, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
announced agreements to buy the power from Topaz Solar Farm and High Plains Ranch.
In late October 2010 the San Luis Obispo Department Planning and Building released a Draft Environmental Impact report for which is now accepting public comment.
In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy offered First Solar a $1.9 billion loan guarantee to cover part of the financing for the project. In September, First Solar announced that it was unable to qualify for the loan guarantee by the September 30 deadline, but it intended to pursue the project.
First Solar
First Solar, Inc. is an American manufacturer of thin film photovoltaic modules, or solar panels, and a provider to PV power plants of supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling...
, Inc. (thin film CdTe solar module maker) in the Carrizo Plain
Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain is a large enclosed plain, approximately 50 miles long and up to 15 miles across, in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, California, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California...
, northwest of California Valley
California Valley, California
California Valley is an unincorporated community located in the eastern part of San Luis Obispo County, California, in the northern portion of the Carrizo Plain.Located...
at a cost of over $1 billion. On August 14, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric announced an agreement to buy all the power from the power plant.
Commenting on this project and a nearby 250 MW project announced at the same time, Daniel Kammen
Daniel Kammen
Daniel Kammen is the Class of 1935 Distinguished Professor of Energy at the University of California, Berkeley and a climate advisor to the Obama administration. He is a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, for their...
, the director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, said "This scale is ten times larger than what was being talked about a while ago".
OptiSolar, the instigator of the project, had optioned 9.5 mi2 of ranchland,
In November 2009, First Solar announced that it had purchased options to an additional 640 acres (259 ha) from Ausra's
Ausra (company)
Ausra Inc. is a company that provides solar thermal power, steam and energy systems for industrial processes and utility-scale electricity generation...
canceled Carrizo Energy Solar Farm. First Solar would reconfigure the project to minimize the use of land covered by the Williamson Act
Williamson Act
The Williamson Act of the US state of California is a California law that provides relief of property tax to owners of farmland and open-space land in exchange for a ten-year agreement that the land will not be developed or otherwise converted to another use...
.
The project would utilize thin-film PV panels designed and manufactured by First Solar. The project would deliver approximately 1,100 gigawatt-hours (GW·h) annually of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
. The plant's power would be generated during the middle of the day, when demand for electricity — and price — is much higher than at night. The project is expected to begin construction in 2011 and be fully operational by 2014. California utilities are mandated to get 33% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
On August 14, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company , commonly known as PG&E, is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from Bakersfield almost to the Oregon border...
announced agreements to buy the power from Topaz Solar Farm and High Plains Ranch.
In late October 2010 the San Luis Obispo Department Planning and Building released a Draft Environmental Impact report for which is now accepting public comment.
In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy offered First Solar a $1.9 billion loan guarantee to cover part of the financing for the project. In September, First Solar announced that it was unable to qualify for the loan guarantee by the September 30 deadline, but it intended to pursue the project.
See also
- High Plains Ranch
- Carrizo Energy Solar Farm