Topaz Solar Farm now the World's largest Solar Plant
The Topaz Solar Farm has gone online in California's Carrizo Plain. It is the world’s largest solar power plant with nine million panels and has enough power to supply 160,000 homes.
The $2.5bn project spans 9.5 square miles and has a capacity of 550 megawatts. Construction started in 2011 but now, with the installation of the final 40 megawatt segment, it is now the first 500-plus megawatt solar farm to begin operation in the United States.
The project which was initially meant to finish in early 2015 was completed ahead of schedule. According to First Solar, the project is expected to displace 377,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking 73,000 cars off the road. While there are no moving parts, the Topaz solar power plant requires no water to generate electricity, and it makes a very little noise.
Each solar panel stands five and a half feet (1.7 metres) off the ground and this reduces visible impact from the expansive farm.
The company stated, ‘First Solar projects have a low environmental impact,’ and ‘When in operation, our systems generate electricity with no air emissions, no waste production, no water use, and have the smallest carbon footprint of any photovoltaic technology.’
SunPower’s Solar Star which is also in California will displace Topaz Solar Farm plant as the world's largest solar plant and will be capable of producing 579 megawatts.
Follow on twitter @natezone14 for more updates and like our Facebook page ZephNate
The $2.5bn project spans 9.5 square miles and has a capacity of 550 megawatts. Construction started in 2011 but now, with the installation of the final 40 megawatt segment, it is now the first 500-plus megawatt solar farm to begin operation in the United States.The project which was initially meant to finish in early 2015 was completed ahead of schedule. According to First Solar, the project is expected to displace 377,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking 73,000 cars off the road. While there are no moving parts, the Topaz solar power plant requires no water to generate electricity, and it makes a very little noise.
Each solar panel stands five and a half feet (1.7 metres) off the ground and this reduces visible impact from the expansive farm.
The company stated, ‘First Solar projects have a low environmental impact,’ and ‘When in operation, our systems generate electricity with no air emissions, no waste production, no water use, and have the smallest carbon footprint of any photovoltaic technology.’
SunPower’s Solar Star which is also in California will displace Topaz Solar Farm plant as the world's largest solar plant and will be capable of producing 579 megawatts.
Follow on twitter @natezone14 for more updates and like our Facebook page ZephNate
Topaz Solar Farm now the World's largest Solar Plant
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