California Solar Plant Could be Hazard to Pilots, Birds

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System seems to be causing issues for those who fly overhead, man or animal. At least one pilot has reported being temporarily blinded by the glare from the facility. Also, evidence indicates the facility is causing the deaths of many birds.

The solar thermal power project, located in California's Mojave Desert, has a planned capacity of 392 megawatts (MW) and is one of the largest solar projects in the world. The $2.2 billion solar farm, which spans more than five square miles, includes three 40-story solar power towers. The 350,000 large mirrors reflect sunlight onto boilers atop the towers, creating steam that drives the plant's turbines.

BrightSource Energy (Oakland, California) reported that many dead birds have been found at and around the plant during the past several months. Many appeared to have burned feathers and were scorched by the heat generated by the reflective mirrors. It is said that the birds may be drawn to the plant because the mirrors may appear to them as a body of water. Investigation into the bird deaths is ongoing and unlikely to affect the operations of the plant.

Meanwhile, two separate reports have been filed with the Aviation Safety Reporting System. A pilot and an air traffic controller have said that the reflections from the site's mirrors were bright and distracting.

The complaints were first filed in August 2013, but it took about six months for them to reach the California Energy Commission, the regulatory body which oversees Ivanpah.

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) (Princeton, New Jersey) and BrightSource are currently looking into the issue. The complaints were filed prior to the site being operational, while the heliostats were being tested. No accidents have been reported due to the facility's glare.

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