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.
Here you’ll find data on parabolic trough power plants in operation and under development in the United States.
| 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.
Nevada Solar One
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
Arizona Public Services Saguaro Project
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.
SEGS IX
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
SEGS VIII
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
SEGS VII
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
SEGS VI
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
SEGS V
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
SEGS IV
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
SEGS III
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
SEGS II
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
SEGS I
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
