Boilermakers help build world’s largest solar thermal facility

L-92 leads critical work at innovative Ivanpah Valley project

RISING FROM THE floor of California’s Mojave Desert, about 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System’s three 459-foot towers resemble missile launch pads. They are the most visible features of a 3,600-acre development that will use focused sunlight to turn water to steam and steam to electricity.

The $2.2 billion, 392-MW project is being built by BrightSource Energy and will provide power to PG&E and Southern California Edison. The U.S. Department of Energy has guaranteed about $1.4 billion for the project.