SOLAR MACHINE: Solar Energy Generating Systems

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Sketch of a Parabolic Trough Collector

Aerial view showing portions of four of the five SEGS III-VII plants located at Kramer Junction

Close-up of the Kramer Junction mirrors. Note that several of the mirrors have been broken

Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is the name given to nine solar power plants in California's Mojave Desert, where insolation is among the best available in the United States. SEGS III-VII are located at Kramer Junction, with SEGS VIII-IX at Harper Lake and SEGS I-II at Daggett respectively.^[1]

The installation uses parabolic trough solar thermal technology along with natural gas to generate electricity. The plants have a 354 MW installed capacity, making it the largest installation of solar plants of any kind in the world.^[1] By comparison, the largest photovoltaic plant produces 12 MW,^[2] although a 40 MW PV installation (Waldpolenz Solar Park) is under construction in Germany^[3] and a 154 MW PV Solar power station in Victoria, Australia, is planned.^[4]

The SEGS power plants were commissioned between 1984 and 1991. The facilities have a total of over 1,000,000 mirrors and cover more than 1,600 acres (6.4 km²). SEGS VIII (80MW) and SEGS IX (80MW) are the largest solar power plants individually and collectively in the world.^[5]