Beacon Solar Project
Beacon Solar Project | |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Location | Kern County, California |
Coordinates | 35°15′25″N 118°00′47″W / 35.257°N 118.013°W |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 2014 |
Commission date | 2017 |
Owner | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power |
Solar farm | |
Type | Flat-panel PV |
Site area | 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) |
Power generation | |
Nameplate capacity | 250 MWac |
The Beacon Solar Project is a photovoltaic power station in the northwestern Mojave Desert, near California City in eastern Kern County, California.[1][2] Split into five phases, the Beacon solar facilities combined generate 250 MW of renewable energy for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).[2] The five projects, completed in December 2017 total 903,434 panels.[3]
The Beacon Solar Project was originally proposed by NextEra Energy using parabolic trough mirrors. LADWP acquired the entitled project site in 2012 and changed it to cheaper photovoltaic technology.[4] LADWP contracted Hecate Energy to develop three phases of 162 MW and SunEdison to develop 88 MW in two phases.[5] SunEdison's stake in the project was later acquired by Capital Dynamics.[6] Hecate Energy's stake in the project was acquired by sPower[7] (Sustainable Power), and was completed by sPower, who was later acquired by AES.
In October 2018, LADWP commissioned the Beacon Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with 10 MWh/20 MW of storage to stabilize the energy sent to the grid by the solar panels.[3]
Projects
The Beacon Solar Project consists of 5 solar power station projects:
- Beacon 1 — a 56 MWac solar power station using photovoltaics, which began commercial operations in early 2017.[8]
- Beacon 2 — a proposed 48 MWac solar power station using photovoltaics, commissioned in December 2017.[9][10]
- Beacon 3 — a 56 MWac solar power station using photovoltaics, which began commercial operations in early 2017.[11]
- Beacon 4 — a 50 MWac solar power station using photovoltaics, which began commercial operations in early 2017.[12]
- Beacon 5 — a proposed 40 MWac solar power station using photovoltaics, commissioned in December 2017.[9][10]
Production
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 3,013 | 3,013 | |||||||||||
2017 | 6,373 | 7,630 | 12,961 | 6,373 | 16,330 | 49,667 | |||||||
Total | 52,680 |
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 4,962 | 4,962 | |||||||||||
2017 | 5,186 | 6,525 | 11,301 | 5,186 | 14,017 | 42,215 | |||||||
Total | 47,177 |
See also
- Springbok Solar Farm
- Solar power plants in the Mojave Desert
- Solar power in California
- Solar power in the Mojave Desert — topics
References
- ^ "Draft Environmental Impact Report: Beacon Photovoltaic Project" (PDF). Kern County Planning and Community Development Department. July 2012.
- ^ a b "LADWP Begins Construction on Major Solar Project that Will Deliver 300 MW of Solar Power to Los Angeles" (Press release). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. July 25, 2014.
- ^ a b Tucker, Carol. "Beacon of Light: A Solar Plant Shines in the Mojave Desert". digital.apogee-mg.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Clarke, Chris (July 22, 2014). "L.A. to Break Ground on Big Desert Solar Project". KCET.
- ^ "Amendment to the Beacon Sites 1, 3, and 4 PPAs" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Resolution No. 017-110" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. November 15, 2016.
- ^ "sPower Gets $434M in Financing for Its Beacon Solar Projects". sPower. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ "Beacon 1". Hecate Energy LLC.
- ^ a b "Beacon Solar Project - Amendment No. 1 to the Power Purchase Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, Ground Lease, and Option Agreements for Power Purchase Agreements" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. November 22, 2016.
- ^ a b "Resolution No. 014-229" (PDF). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. June 5, 2014. p. 6.
- ^ "Beacon 3". Hecate Energy LLC.
- ^ "Beacon 4". Hecate Energy LLC.
- ^ "Hecate Energy Beacon 3, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Hecate Energy Beacon 4, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved July 30, 2017.