The Hatch Solar Energy Center is a 5 MWpconcentrated photovoltaics power station, the largest in North America when it was completed, in 2011.[1] It was built by Blattner Energy using 84 dual axis Amonix 7700 panels each of which contains 7,560 fresnel lens[2] to concentrate sunlight 500 times, and multijunction photovoltaic cells, allowing a greater efficiency than other photovoltaic power plants. It uses all three of the methods available to increase efficiency - dual-axis tracking, concentrating photovoltaics, and multijunction cells. The systems are certified for operation for 50 years, but the multijunction cells will need to be replaced in 25 years.[3] The output is being sold to El Paso Electric, under a 25 year power purchase agreement (PPA).[4] Output is expected to be 11,000 MWh/year.[5]
