The Ivanpah Solar project in pictures

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is a solar thermal power plant located close to Las Vegas in the California Mojave Desert. 173,500 heliostats reflect the sun’s rays at three solar power towers. Each tower features a water-filled receiver that generates high temperature steam when heated by the reflected energy. The farm has a planned capacity of 392 megawatts (MW).

BrightSource Energy and Bechtel developed Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System at a cost of $2.2 billion. Google invested a significant amount in the project; the largest investor was NRG Energy based in Princeton, N.J. The United States Department of Energy provided a $1.6 billion loan.

For more information, see our article Controversial Ivanpoh Solar switches on.