Case Study:

CHALLENGE

In the late 2000’s the US government incentivized development of utility-scale renewable electrical power generation via federal grants and large subsidies. Concentrated solar power (CSP) technology offered a sensible alternative to traditional electrical generation methods, however, this model was accompanied by steep regulatory requirements and geographic constraints. A stationary receiver (the tower), usually exceeding 500 feet in height had to be centrally located among an array of large mirrors, also known as heliostats. A minimum of 800 contiguous acres were needed to accommodate a 100 MW facility. At the time, only several operational CSP facilities existed in the world, none of which were located in the US. With time-sensitive government subsidies in waiting, thousands of applications were being submitted in the US Southwest by developers, promoting various renewable technologies, with hopes of being awarded federal subsidies and land grants. With so many factors to consider, selecting the perfect site was like finding a needle in a haystack. Traditional siting methods were financially taxing and there was ample competition in the renewable space. Time was of the essence, millions of dollars were at stake, and there was no playbook on how to reach the finish line.

SOLUTION

A custom GIS site suitability model was developed which could be applied over thousands of miles and precisely calibrated to reveal optimal site locations based on complex parameters. Prior literature, in conjunction with expert guidance, was garnered to define the appropriate search criteria and relative importance of every potential geographic factor. A weighted overlay analysis was applied to the appropriate layers where presence and proximity were vital to project success. Area, slope, nearby utilities, direct solar insolation, FAA flight paths, and environmental concerns were some of the criteria taken into consideration. Additionally, competitor applications, jurisdictional conflicts, and compliance with state and federal regulations were built into the suitability model. The solution delivered accurate data-driven results within minutes eliminating months of land planning efforts.

RESULT

Despite many competitor applications, the client received one of only three federal grants to develop their renewable energy facility in San Bernardino County, California. The novel GIS analysis provided data-driven justifications for site selection, and produced the visuals needed along with a defendable methodology that could be used for information sharing and stake holder buy-in. The project at the time was deemed the largest operating concentrated thermal electric generating system in the world. The 392-megawatt plant resides at the base of Clark Mountain across 3,500 acres in the Mojave Desert, consists of 173,500 heliostats, three power tower facilities, and has the capacity to provide clean, sustainable power to over 100,000 American homes.