Solar Star

Comparison to similar plants

Compared to other photovoltaic plants of similar size, Solar Star uses a smaller number (1.7 million) of large form-factor, high-wattage, high-efficiency, higher cost crystalline silicon modules, mounted on single axis trackers. In contrast, the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and the Topaz Solar Farm (550 MW each) use a larger number (roughly 9 million) of smaller form-factor, lower wattage, lower efficiency, lower cost thin-film CdTe photovoltaic modules, mounted on fixed-tilt arrays and spread over a larger land area. Both approaches appear commercially viable.

There are a number of other solar photovoltaic plants nearby:

• Antelope Valley Solar Ranch (266 MW from 3.8 million thin film panels)
  34°46′N 118°25′W / 34.767°N 118.417°W
• Alpine Solar (66 MW AC, thin film panels)
  34°47′37″N 118°30′44″W / 34.79361°N 118.51222°W
• Catalina Solar Project (60 MW, thin film panels)
  34°56′N 118°20′W / 34.933°N 118.333°W