Victorville 2 will be one of the nation’s first “hybrid” power plant, combining the ultra high efficiency of the modern natural gas fired combined cycle technology with the proven renewable design of a solar thermal system, using parabolic trough mirrors to capture the sun’s energy and turn it into electricity.
Much like a hybrid car, this approach combines the best features of two-state-of-the-art technologies to produce a design that is an improvement over either one as stand-alone technologies. The result will be the cleanest and most efficient fossil fuel fired plant in the world.
"The result will be the cleanest and most efficient fossil fuel fired plant in the world."
The City decided to use the solar thermal technology for the Project’s renewable component because the sun’s recoverable energy levels in the High Desert are among the highest in the world. This, coupled with the fact that high population concentrations (therefore high demand for energy) are found nearby, makes this one of the most valuable and unique renewable energy resources in the world. Victorville 2 will produce up to 50 MW of electricity from the solar component alone, which will require 250 acres of mirrors.
