The largest green energy project with 350 thousand mirrors is shutting down: reasons.

The largest solar power plant in the USA is set to close due to competition and harm to nature

The largest solar power plant in the USA, Ivanpah, is planned to close 11 years after its opening. This was reported by the Tech Xplore portal.

The Ivanpah power plant was opened in 2014 on the border of California and Nevada. It was considered a major breakthrough in the field of green energy, but today its capacity cannot compete with cheaper solar technologies.

The plant uses a technology known as solar thermal, in which 350 thousand mirrors reflect sunlight to the top of a tower, where water is heated and converted into steam, which then drives turbines.

However, the station has failed to produce the planned amount of electricity due to adverse weather conditions. Additionally, it has been criticized for its impact on nature in the desert region, particularly for the death of birds and turtles.

The plant at Ivanpah was a financial venture and an environmental disaster. In addition to the deaths of thousands of birds and turtles, the construction of the project destroyed irreplaceable untouched desert habitat along with numerous rare plant species, said Julia Dowell from the Sierra Club.

Pacific Gas & Electric reported that it has agreed to terminate contracts with the owners of Ivanpah and close two of the three units of the plant starting in 2026. NRG Energy, the owner of Ivanpah, stated that the project was successful but cannot compete with other solar technologies.

Initially, prices were competitive, but over Time the emergence of new technologies in the field of photovoltaics and batteries has led to more efficient and cheaper options for producing clean energy, NRG Energy officials stated.

Thus, the largest solar power plant in the USA will only be able to operate for another 11 years due to competition and environmental issues.