Sunlight is an almost endless source of energy on Earth. And lately mankind understands more and more this simple truth. For example, in the United States of America in the Mojave Desert, the world's largest solar power plant, Ivanpah, is already under construction.
Ivanpah - the giant City of the Sun in the Mojave Desert
It began back in 2010, and in 2013, it is expected that the world's largest solar power plant, named Ivanpah (in honor of the Indian settlement of the same name, which was once located nearby), will be put into operation.
The total capacity of this power plant is expected to be 392 megawatts, which will meet the energy needs of about 140,000 private homes. And if you count the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, which will save Ivanpah, you get the equivalent of 70 thousand cars.
All 170 thousand solar panels in Ivanpah will have a GPS sensor and a rotation system, so that every ten seconds they can move slightly around their axis following the movement of the Sun across the sky.
Promotional video:
Moreover, it is already known that in 2013 only the first stage of this giant power plant will be launched. At the state level, it was decided to continue the construction of the facility - there is a lot of space in the desert (as well as the sun).
The bold plans of the US government include the transformation of the entire Mojave Desert and the surrounding areas into a solar power plant within 30 years. And this is 19 million acres (almost 80 thousand square kilometers)! This will generate a huge amount of energy, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 million tons (equivalent to 2 million 100 thousand cars).