Solar Star project

Solar Star project. It is one of the world's largest photovoltaic power stations, located near Rosamond in Kern County, California. The facility, developed by SunPower and now owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, achieved full commercial operation in 2015 and provides substantial renewable energy to Southern California Edison customers. Its massive scale underscores the rapid growth of utility-scale solar power in the United States.

Overview

The project consists of two adjacent co-located plants, known as Solar Star 1 and Solar Star 2, which together form a single massive installation on approximately 3,200 acres of private land in the Antelope Valley. It was constructed as part of a major push for renewable energy in California, driven by the state's ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard. The site was selected for its high solar irradiance, flat terrain, and proximity to existing electrical grid infrastructure managed by the California Independent System Operator.

Development and construction

Development was led by SunPower Corporation, which also provided the technology and served as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor. Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, later renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy, provided the financing and acquired the project upon completion. Construction began in 2013 and created over 650 jobs during its peak, involving significant site preparation and the installation of a vast array of single-axis tracker systems. The project was completed on schedule and began delivering power to Southern California Edison under long-term power purchase agreements.

Technical specifications

The facility has a combined nameplate capacity of 747 megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC), with a direct current (DC) capacity of 579 MW for Solar Star 1 and 608 MW for Solar Star 2. It utilizes approximately 1.7 million high-efficiency SunPower E-Series and X-Series solar panels, all mounted on single-axis trackers that follow the sun from east to west. The generated electricity is stepped up to 230 kilovolts at onsite electrical substations before being fed into the Southern California Edison transmission system via a Pacific Gas and Electric Company interconnection.

Power generation and impact

The plant generates an estimated 1,786 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 255,000 homes according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency metrics. This output displaces over 570,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, contributing significantly to California's climate change mitigation goals. The project's output is fully contracted under long-term agreements with Southern California Edison, helping the utility meet its obligations under the Renewable Portfolio Standard set by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Ownership and operations

The project is wholly owned and operated by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. SunPower originally developed the project and continues to provide ongoing operations and maintenance services under a long-term contract. The facility represents one of the largest investments in renewable energy by Berkshire Hathaway and is a flagship asset within the Berkshire Hathaway Energy portfolio, which also includes major holdings in wind power such as the Alta Wind Energy Center. Category:Solar power stations in California Category:Buildings and structures in Kern County, California Category:Photovoltaic power stations in the United States