Solar (PV and CSP)

Photovoltaic (or PV) Solar uses thin-film photovoltaic solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity without the need for process water or steam turbines. NRG owns the largest PV solar project in California , the 21 megawatt (MW) power plant in Blythe , Calif. Located in Riverside County about 200 miles east of Los Angeles , power from the Blythe facility is sold to Southern California Edison (SCE) under a 20-year power purchase agreement. At peak capacity, the project can supply the power needs of almost 17,000 homes while helping California meet its renewable energy goals.

Built and operated by First Solar for NRG, the project uses First Solar's industry-leading thin film PV panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity with no water consumption during operation. The Blythe plant will generate over 45,000 megawatt-hours of clean, affordable, sustainable electricity per year, avoiding approximately 12,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – the equivalent of taking over 2,200 cars off the road.

NRG's partnership with eSolar, a leading provider of modular, scalable solar thermal power technology, will allow us to advance our renewable energy portfolio while helping to accelerate the development of zero carbon solar power on a commercial scale.

NRG's first 92 MW plant is currently being developed in southern New Mexico . eSolar's concentrating solar power (CSP) technology uses a field of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a thermal receiver. The captured sunlight heats water to produce high-pressure steam that powers a traditional turbine generator. eSolar's technology uses a revolutionary calibration system to track the sun over the course of the day, resulting in unprecedented pointing accuracy for maximum efficiency. Using eSolar's technology, NRG will produce zero-emission, zero-fuel cost electricity that is coincident with peak demand on the hottest summer days.