Topaz Solar Farm

Topaz Solar Farm is a 550 megawatt (MW_AC) photovoltaic power station in San Luis Obispo County, California. Construction on the project began in November 2011 and ended in November 2014. It is one of the world's largest solar farms. The $2.5 billion project includes 9 million CdTe photovoltaic modules based on thin-film technology, manufactured by U.S. company First Solar. The company also built, operates and maintains the project for MidAmerican Renewables, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Pacific Gas and Electric will buy the electricity under a 25-year power purchase agreement. According to First Solar, it created about 400 construction jobs.[2]

Topaz Solar Farm
Topaz Solar Farm solar panels
Country	United States
Location	Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo County, California
Coordinates	35°23′00″N 120°04′00″W
Status	Operational
Construction began	2011
Commission date	2014
Construction cost	$2.4 billion[1]
Owner(s)	Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Solar farm
Type	Flat-panel PV
Site area	19 square kilometres (7.3 sq mi), 4700 acres
Power generation
Nameplate capacity	550 MWAC
Capacity factor	26.6% (average 2015–2018)
Annual net output	1,282 GW·h, 272 MW·h/acre
External links
Website	Topaz Solar Farm
Commons	Related media on Commons

History

OptiSolar, the instigator of the project, had optioned 9.5 square miles (25 km²) of ranchland,[3] In November 2009, First Solar announced that it had purchased options to an additional 640 acres (260 ha) from Ausra's canceled Carrizo Energy Solar Farm. First Solar would reconfigure the project to minimize the use of land covered by the Williamson Act.[4][5][6]

The project uses nine million[7] thin-film cadmium telluride PV panels designed and manufactured by First Solar. The plant's power would be generated during the middle of the day, when demand for electricity — and price — is much higher than at night. The project was expected to begin construction in 2011 and be fully operational by 2014. California utilities are mandated to get 33% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.

On August 14, 2008, Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced agreements to buy the power from Topaz Solar Farm and High Plains Ranch.[8][9] In late October 2010 the San Luis Obispo Department Planning and Building released a Draft Environmental Impact report.

In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy offered First Solar a $1.9 billion loan guarantee to cover part of the financing for the project. The First Solar project was not able to close its conditional loan guarantee with the Department of Energy prior to the September 30 deadline, but it has gone ahead anyway.[2]

On May 18, 2012, First Solar announced the installation of the first PV panel.[10] On October 24, 2012, First Solar announced the installation of the millionth panel.[11] The plant began providing energy to the grid in February 2013.[12] The five-millionth panel was installed in October 2013.[13]

On January 10, 2019, with Pacific Gas and Electric Company facing billions of dollars in wildfire liabilities, S&P Global Ratings cut the credit rating of Berkshire Hathaway Energy's 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farms to junk, noting that the plant counts on PG&E for all of its revenue.[14]

Electricity production

Generation (MW·h) of Topaz Solar[12]

year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	annual
2013	–	239	24,499	18,660	31,026	40,465	47,772	58,441	53,196	47,407	39,423	40,180	401,308
2014	50,883	51,063	77,789	90,451	99,511	110.227	114,932	124,320	119,978	113,417	92,644	60,642	1,105,857
2015	89,663	92,944	108,663	114,979	103,163	123,704	130,249	133,000	120,634	111,211	93,907	79,220	1,301,337
2016	65,211	101,749	108,033	106,132	124,972	134,559	138,059	130,844	111,319	99,693	88,536	56,698	1,265,760
2017	57,880	42,375	95,639	108,198	128,816	132,016	129,836	121,997	122,106	117,862	90,225	90,582	1,237,532
2018	80,851	101,373	93,826	125,445	136,903	136,248	131,293	131,442	121,581	118,207	83,610	74,940	1,335,717
2019	75,557	70,097	97,868	117,138	110,050
Average Annual Production (years 2015-2018) --->													1,282,336

Topaz Solar Farm from space. Earth Observatory image, 2015.

Gallery

• 
  Evaporation pond at Topaz Solar
• 
  Construction in 2012
• 
  Solar panels at Topaz Solar 1
• 
  Solar Panels at Topaz Solar 7

See also

• California Valley Solar Ranch
• Carrizo Energy Solar Farm
• Desert Sunlight Solar Farm
• Solar power in California

References

1. "$1 Billion Bond Offering Completed for World's Largest Solar Project". 28 June 2013.
2. Steve Leone (7 December 2011). "Billionaire Buffett Bets on Solar Energy". Renewable Energy World.
3. Sneed, David (2008-08-14). "Calif. utility agrees to buy solar power from two proposed plants". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
4. Woody, Todd (November 5, 2009). "Ausra Sells Planned Plant to First Solar". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
5. Sneed, David (November 5, 2009). "Solar power company drops out of plans for Carrizo Plain in eastern San Luis Obispo County". The Tribune. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
6. Wang, Ucilia (November 5, 2009). "First Solar Buys Land Option From Ausra for Topaz Project". Greentech Media. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
7. "Topaz Solar Farm". First Solar. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
8. "PG&E Signs Historic 800 MW Photovoltaic Solar Power Agreements With Optisolar and Sunpower" (Press release). Pacific Gas and Electric. 2008-08-14. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
9. Sneed, David (2008-08-14). "Calif. utility agrees to buy solar power from two proposed plants". McClatchy Newspapers. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
10. "Pirst Photovoltaic Solar Panel Installed on Largest Solar Project in the World" (Press release). First Solar. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
11. "One Millionth Photovoltaic Solar Module Installed at MidAmerican Solar's Topaz Project by First Solar" (PDF) (Press release). First Solar. October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
12. Energy Information Administration. "Topaz Solar Farm, monthly". Electricity Data Browser. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
13. Five Millionth Photovoltaic Solar Module Installed on 550-Megawatt Topaz Solar Farms, Business Wire, 10/09/2013
14. "PG&E Said to Plan Bankruptcy Notice to Workers as Soon as Monday" (Press release). Bloomburg. 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2019-01-12.

External links

• "Topaz Solar Farm (First Solar/Optisolar) Conditional Use Permit (DRC2008-00009)". Environmental Information and Natural Resources. San Luis Obispo County. Retrieved 23 September 2011.