Here you'll find data on parabolic trough power plants in operation and under development in the United States. The data include plant type, technology, net output, project type, and funding.
| Plant Name | Location | First Year of Operation |
Net Output (MWe) |
Solar Field Outlet (°C) |
Solar Field Area (m2) |
Solar Turbine Effic. (%) |
Power Cycle | Dispatchability Provided By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Solar One | Boulder City, NV | 2007* | 64 | 390 | 357,200 | 37.6 | 100 bar, reheat | None |
| APS Saguaro | Tucson, AZ | 2006 | 1 | 300 | 10,340 | 20.7 | ORC | None |
| SEGS IX | Harper Lake, CA | 1991 | 80 | 390 | 483,960 | 37.6 | 100 bar, reheat | HTF heater |
| SEGS VIII | Harper Lake, CA | 1990 | 80 | 390 | 464,340 | 37.6 | 100 bar, reheat | HTF heater |
| SEGS VI | Kramer Junction, CA | 1989 | 30 | 390 | 188,000 | 37.5 | 100 bar, reheat | Gas boiler |
| SEGS VII | Kramer Junction, CA | 1989 | 30 | 390 | 194,280 | 37.5 | 100 bar, reheat | Gas boiler |
| SEGS V | Kramer Junction, CA | 1988 | 30 | 349 | 250,500 | 30.6 | 40 bar, steam | Gas boiler |
| SEGS III | Kramer Junction, CA | 1987 | 30 | 349 | 230,300 | 30.6 | 40 bar, steam | Gas boiler |
| SEGS IV | Kramer Junction, CA | 1987 | 30 | 349 | 230,300 | 30.6 | 40 bar, steam | Gas boiler |
| SEGS II | Daggett, CA |
1986 | 30 | 316 | 190,338 | 29.4 | 40 bar, steam | Gas boiler |
| SEGS I | Daggett, CA | 1985 | 13.8 | 307 | 82,960 | 31.5 | 40 bar, steam | 3-hrs TES |
Notes: *Planned date of operation
For information and data on international parabolic trough power plants, visit the SolarPaces Web site.
Location: Eldorado Valley, Boulder City, Nevada
First Year of Operation: 2007 (planned)
Type: Reheat steam Rankine cycle power plant
Fossil fuel: None
Net Output: 64 MW
Principals: Acciona/Solargenix Energy (Developer/Solar Technology/Operator), Nevada Power (Utility PPA), Siemens (power cycle)
Solar Technology: Solargenix SGX-1 parabolic trough collector; Schott PTR70 & Solel UVAC receivers; Flabeg mirror.
Project Type: Independent power project for meeting Nevada renewable portfolio standard (RPS), special power purchase agreement
Operational Dispatch: Solar-only operation
Special Incentives: Project supports Nevada solar RPS set aside; federal 30% investment tax credit
Status: Start-up in Spring 2007
Location: Saguaro, Arizona, near Tucson
First Year of Operation: 2006
Type: Recuperated organic Rankine cycle power plant, using pentane working fluid heated to 300°C.
Fossil fuel: None
Net Output: 1 MW
Principals: Arizona Public Service (owner/operator), Solargenix Energy (developer/solar provider), Ormat (power cycle)
Solar Technology: Solargenix DS-1 parabolic trough collector; Schott PTR70 receivers; Flabeg mirrors
Project Type: Utility ownership; supports Arizona renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements.
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours.
Special Incentives: Arizona solar RPS, federal production tax credit available for utility ownership.
Status: Daily operation (first power in December 2005).
NREL Conference Paper about Project: (PDF 517 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Location: Mojave Desert, Harper Lake, California
First Year of Operation: 1991
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas heat transfer fluid heater to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 80 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-3 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 2 (SO-2) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Harper Lake, California
First Year of Operation: 1990
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas heat transfer fluid heater to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 80 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-3 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 2 (SO-2) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Kramer Junction, California
First Year of Operation: 1989
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours.
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (Owner/Operator), Luz (Developer), Southern California Edison (Utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-2 and LS-3 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 4 (SO-4) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Kramer Junction, California
First Year of Operation: 1989
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours.
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 4 (SO-4) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Kramer Junction, California
First Year of Operation: 1988
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 4 (SO-4) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Kramer Junction, California
First Year of Operation: 1987
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 4 (SO-4) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Kramer Junction, California
First Year of Operation: 1987
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours.
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: FPL Energy (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with Standard Offer 4 (SO-4) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary and during mid-peak hours.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Daggett, California
First Year of Operation: 1986
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation and solar superheating; auxiliary natural gas boiler to provide backup capability during low and non-solar hours.
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 30 MW
Principals: Sunray Energy, Inc. (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-1 and LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with special Standard Offer 2 (SO-2) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. Natural gas backup operated to augment solar during summer peak from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. as necessary.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation
Location: Mojave Desert, Daggett, California
First Year of Operation: 1985
Type: Solar electric generating station (SEGS); solar steam generation with natural gas superheating, including three hours of thermal energy storage.
Fossil fuel: Natural gas
Net Output: 13.8 MW
Principals: Sunray Energy, Inc. (owner/operator), Luz (developer), Southern California Edison (utility PPA)
Solar Technology: Luz LS-1 and LS-2 collectors
Project Type: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Qualifying Facility IPP with special Standard Offer 2 (SO-2) type power purchase agreement to Southern California Edison
Operational Dispatch: Solar operation during sunny hours. The plant initially had 3 hours of thermal energy storage that was used to dispatch to peak period. The storage system was damaged by fire in 1999 and was not replaced.
Special Incentives: Federal and state investment tax credits, solar property tax exclusion, accelerated depreciation.
Status: Daily operation