Two Years of Performance Data for the World´s Largest Photovoltaic Power Plant

The Carrisa Plains Photovoltaic Power Plant is the largest photovoltaic central station power plant in the world. The plant, interconnected to Pacific Gas and Electric Company´s (PGandE´s) transmission network, is owned and operated by ARCO Solar, Inc. This paper summarizes the plant´s performance from January, 1984 to October, 1985. Performance is analyzed in terms of energy output, capacity factors, and match to PGandE´s system load. The plant has been a reliable energy producer, has had high capacity factors during peak hours in the summer months, and has proven to be a good match to PGandE´s peak system load.