Sierra SunTower
| Company type | Commercial solar power facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable energy, Solar power |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Lancaster , United States |
Area served | California, United States |
| Products | Concentrating solar power (CSP) electricity generation |
Number of employees | 21 (during operation) |
| Parent | eSolar |
Sierra SunTower was a 5 MW commercial concentrating solar power (CSP) facility constructed and managed by eSolar in Lancaster, California. By mid-September 2022, its pair of central towers had been dismantled, although several other components of the plant remained intact.
Overview
The Sierra SunTower project aimed to demonstrate eSolar's CSP technology at a full operational scale, reducing risks associated with scaling up and acting as a prototype for subsequent developments.
This plant employed power tower CSP technology, utilizing a field of heliostats that concentrated sunlight onto thermal receivers mounted atop towers. The intense solar energy heated water to generate steam, which then drove a turbine generator to produce electricity. Afterward, the steam was condensed and recycled back into the system.
History
eSolar introduced the 5 MW Sierra SunTower in Lancaster in 2009 to showcase its CSP technology. By spring 2010, it was the sole commercial CSP tower operating in North America, connected to the Southern California Edison grid.
At the project's inauguration, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasized its significance in promoting affordable, carbon-free energy solutions.
The facility operated exclusively during periods of clear sunlight. By 2015, California hosted two solar power tower projects: the 392 MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System alongside eSolar's Sierra SunTower. Combined, they produced 397 MW in 2014.
Shutdown
The Sierra SunTower halted commercial operations in 2015 due to elevated operational expenses, which limited its viability to only the brightest days.
Location
Situated on roughly 8 hectares within an arid valley of the southwestern Mojave Desert, the project occupied privately owned farmland.
Equipment
The plant consisted of two modules encompassing 24,000 heliostats arranged across four sub-fields that directed sunlight onto two tower-mounted receivers. The captured heat transformed feedwater into superheated steam, which powered a refurbished 1947 GE turbine generator for electricity production. Subsequently, steam was condensed and reused. Construction generated over 300 temporary jobs and maintained a workforce of 21 permanent employees during operation.
Output
Recognized by the California Energy Commission as a renewable energy facility, Sierra SunTower sold electricity through a Power Purchase Agreement with Southern California Edison. Its 5 MW capacity supplied power sufficient for approximately 4,000 homes and prevented about 7,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually—comparable to planting 5,265 acres of forest or removing 1,368 vehicles from circulation.
Awards
In December 2009, Power Engineering magazine honored Sierra SunTower as “Best Renewable Project,” acknowledging it as an innovative power generation effort. In February 2010, Renewable Energy World granted it “Renewable Project of the Year” for pioneering advancements in commercial solar thermal technology.
Performance data
The US Treasury Department Performance Report indicated that from August 1, 2010, through July 31, 2011, the eSolar Sierra SunTower produced 539 MWh of electricity. This output accounted for roughly 12.6% of the originally projected 4,270 MWh.
Production
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 13 | 31 | 47 | 66 | 75 | 73 | 65 | 53 | 24 | 20 | 8 | 476 |
| 2011 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 27 | 34 | 43 | 37 | 38 | 26 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 270 |
| 2012 | 2 | 23 | 57 | 82 | 113 | 122 | 105 | 83 | 78 | 61 | 31 | 23 | 780 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 94 |
| Cumulative Total | 1,620 | ||||||||||||
See also
- List of concentrating solar thermal power companies
- List of photovoltaic power stations
- List of solar thermal power stations
- Renewable energy in the United States
- Renewable portfolio standard
- Solar power in the United States
- Solar power plants in the Mojave Desert
External links
- official eSolar website — Sierra SunTower.
- guntherportfolio.com — Sierra SunTower - Performance