Solar Star

Solar Star is a 579-megawatt (MWAC) photovoltaic power station near Rosamond, California that is operated and maintained by SunPower Services. When completed in June 2015, it was the world's largest solar farm in terms of installed capacity, using 1.7 million solar panels, made by SunPower and spread over 13 square kilometers (3,200 acres).[1][2][3]

Solar Star
CountryUnited States
LocationRosamond, California
Coordinates34°49′50″N 118°23′53″W
StatusOperational
Construction began2013
Commission dateJune 19, 2015
Owner(s)BHE Renewables
Operator(s)
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Site area13 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi), 3200 acres
Power generation
Nameplate capacity747.3 MWp,[1] 579 MWAC[2]
Capacity factor33.2% (average 2017-2018)
Annual net output1,685 GW·h, 526 MW·h/acre
External links
Websiteus.sunpower.com

Comparison to similar plants

Compared to other photovoltaic plants of similar size, Solar Star uses a smaller number (1.7 million) of large form-factor, high-wattage, high-efficiency, higher cost crystalline silicon modules, mounted on single axis trackers. In contrast, the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and the Topaz Solar Farm (550 MW each) use a larger number (roughly 9 million) of smaller form-factor, lower wattage, lower efficiency, lower cost thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules, mounted on fixed-tilt arrays and spread over a larger land area. Both approaches appear commercially viable.[4]

There are a number of other solar photovoltaic plants nearby:

Electricity production

Solar Star 1 nameplate capacities: 398 MWdc, 314 MWac, annual net output: 900 GW·h

Generation (MW·h) of Solar Star 1 [7]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2014 14,33228,75336,44838,21535,59636,75937,18842,31531,07024,669 325,345
2015 34,12569,83984,20097,30293,80199,40897,31581,85763,30555,84444,893 821,889
2016 39,86739,29632,63684,80291,78652352,26299,00985,11067,45650,14136,270 679,158
2017 41,43248,66779,57486,74199,308105,230102,02691,37582,00872,83750,16346,171 905,532
2018 44,31460,32367,87188,462102,351105,67497,20396,44584,32066,84149,27543,626 906,705
Average Annual Production (years 2017-2018) --->906,118

Solar Star 2 nameplate capacities: 350 MWdc, 266 MWac, annual net output: 760 GW·h

Generation (MW·h) of Solar Star 2 [8]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2014 14,32119,61030,29142,33844,48352,76752,27650,67540,44732,848 380,056
2015 40,76950,58268,53177,03687,21083,18387,90985,62572,53055,49749,89539,635 798,402
2016 34,06556,38553,77674,42789,08965,37695,25686,43873,22658,39045,75235,668 767,848
2017 36,82442,56969,73676,82471,49190,48584,70278,02371,11962,19943,42840,789 768,189
2018 38,74353,33360,03078,27590,72290,72981,90381,81474,10359,71642,77337,987 790,128
Average Annual Production (years 2017-2018) --->779,158

See also

References
  1. "Solar Star I and II". Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  2. "The Solar Star Projects" (PDF).
  3. "Solar Star, Largest PV Power Plant in the World, Now Operational". GreenTechMedia.com. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. Wesoff, Eric (January 14, 2015). "Desert Sunlight, Another 550MW Solar Farm From First Solar, Now Fully Operational". Greentech Media. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  5. Kessler, Richard (5 February 2013). "NRG's Alpine Solar project begins operation". ReCharge News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  6. Gunther, Edgar A. (January 9, 2013). "NRG Alpine Solar Project Nears Completion". GUNTHER Portfolio. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  7. "Solar Star 1, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  8. "Solar Star 2, Monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
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