The IvanPah project - 375--400 Megawatts








Some project details:

  • Total project cost about 2.2 Billion: $5.5 per watt
  • Project footprint: 3500 acres = 14.2 km2: 28 MW per km
  • Construction jobs: 2650 = 6.6 Jobs per MW
  • Permanent jobs: 65 = 0.16 per MW


Besides the "scorched birds" issue, there are these other objections:



Marketing

Performance in the Real World

  • 25% of predicted rate (this makes it really expensive now)

  • 60% increase in use of Natural Gas in auxillary boilers to increase electricty production from Steam.

  • Physics optics problems not looked into yet

  • No energy storage because of no molten salts. Molten salts are coming to this project