Aerial photography of solar power plants in the United States

In 2021, Hegen traveled through the United States, France, and Spain to photograph vast solar energy infrastructures that will be delivering clean energy for generations to. . The neatly-arranged circular facilities seen in Hegen’s images are solar thermal power plants, which focus sunlight from thousands of moving mirrors called heliostats onto a central. . “Aerial photography, to me, is like data visualization for scientists,” Hegen says in a 2022 interview with Fortune. “The elevated perspective has. [pdf]

FAQS about Aerial photography of solar power plants in the United States

Where are solar power production sites located?

Among the locations featured in The Solar Power Series are Ivanpah (California), Crescent Dune (Nevada), Les Mées (France), Planta Solar (near Seville, Spain), and Gemasolar (also near Seville). Most of these solar power production sites are kind of pilot projects and first of their kind constructed within the past 15 years.

What is a solar thermal power plant?

The neatly-arranged circular facilities seen in Hegen’s images are solar thermal power plants, which focus sunlight from thousands of moving mirrors called heliostats onto a central collector tower.

Where are Hegen's solar projects located?

The locations seen in Hegen’s project include the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California’s Mojave Desert, the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Nevada, the Les Mées Solar Farm in France, the PS10 Solar Power Plant near Seville in Spain, and the Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant that’s also near Seville, Spain.

What is a non-circular solar plant?

Non-circular solar plants are photovoltaic power stations (or solar farms), which use the same technology found on residential roofs. Photovoltaic modules are used to convert light directly into electricity. “Aerial photography, to me, is like data visualization for scientists,” Hegen says in a 2022 interview with Fortune.

What is the solar power series?

The project is titled The Solar Power Series. Hegen is a German photographer who has focused his career on capturing aerial photos that offer insights into the traces humans are leaving on Earth’s surface. Hegen “provides an overview of places where we extract, refine and consume resources,” his website reads.

Why is aerial photography important?

The photographer tells Fortune that he often sees unintentional artistic beauty in the way humans interact with the planet in large-scale ways. “ [Aerial photography] shows dimensions and reveals insights we wouldn’t be able to see from the ground,” the photographer says.

More than 1 000 solar power plants

Solar is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world and, with countries racing to assert their dominance in the burgeoning industry, the leading nation is never clear for long. The nations pulling ahead in the sunny sector are China and the US, which together account for two-thirds of the global growth. . The Topaz solar farm is located in the north-western part of the Carrisa Plains in San Luis Obispo County, California, US. The 550MW plant was developed by First Solarand later acquired by. . The Kamuthi solar facility in Tamil Nadu, India, has a total generation capacity of 648MW. Covering 2,500 acres (10km²) and consisting of 2.5 million solar panels, the site is estimated to supply enough power for 750,000 people.. . Solar Star Projects comprises two co-located projects, Solar Star 1 and Solar Star 2, in the Kern and Los Angeles counties, Rosamond, California, US. The two projects have a. . The following is a list of photovoltaic power stations that are larger than 500 (MW) in current net capacity. Most are individual , but some are groups of owned by different and with separate connections to the grid. Wiki-Solar reports total global capacity of utility-scale photovoltaic plants. [pdf]

Department that manages solar power plants

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports PV research and development projects that drive down the costs of solar-generated electricity by improving efficiency . . The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports PV research and development projects that drive down the costs of solar-generated electricity by improving efficiency . . The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) designed this guide to assist local government officials and stakeholders in boosting solar deployment. [pdf]

FAQS about Department that manages solar power plants

Why are public lands interested in solar energy development?

Climate change concerns, state renewable energy portfolio standards, investment tax credits, technological advances and decreasing equipment costs are drivers of interest in utility-scale solar energy development on public lands.

What's new in solar energy development across the west?

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced an updated roadmap for solar energy development across the West, designed to expand solar energy production in more Western states and make renewable energy siting and permitting on America’s public lands more efficient.

Does the BLM have a role in solar energy deployment?

Solar energy has seen dramatic deployment increases in the United States and worldwide over the past decade. The recent Executive Order 14008 and Energy Act of 2020 have prioritized the BLM’s attention to improving the permitting process to facilitate responsible renewable energy deployment on public lands.

Are solar energy development projects permitted on BLM-managed public lands?

Solar energy development projects on BLM-managed public lands are authorized as rights-of-way under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended consistent with appropriate BLM land-use plans. Regulations at 43 CFR 2800 identify requirements for solar development application and permitting.

Should solar projects be located on public lands?

Additionally, laws enacted in many western states require energy companies to supply a portion of their energy from renewable sources. As a result, the BLM is seeing continued interest by solar developers to locate projects on public lands.

Where can I find information about the utility-scale solar energy development Peis/RMPA project?

For more information, please visit the Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development PEIS/RMPA project page. Across the 245 million acres of public land it manages, the BLM has prioritized a combined total of roughly 870,000 acres for solar energy development within its land use plans.