Ivanpah progress highlights: Summer is in full swing in the Mojave Desert
Construction Update
Summer is in full swing in the Mojave Desert, with temperatures reaching up to 110F degrees. But the heat has not stopped the progress at the Ivanpah. There are over 600 total workers on site and we continue to grow our labor force with the upcoming planned work. Below are a few highlights.
Common Area
Great progress is being made at the Heliostat Assembly Building and the Pad Bonding Buildings. The majority of the equipment for the heliostat assembly line and pad bonding machines has been delivered and is currently being installed. The pad bonding process involves applying the components to the mirrors that connect the mirror to the steel frame. Commissioning activities for the first pad bonding machine are underway. Commissioning of the heliostat assembly building will commence in September.
Unit 1
A significant milestone was reached with the erection of the first structural steel section of the Unit 1 solar power tower / boiler. The structural steel sections are first assembled in the power block area and then lifted into place by a tower crane. (The crane assembly required multiple trucks to deliver the sections of the crane.) Earthwork for the Unit 1 plant services building and air-cooled condenser foundation is in progress, and the first concrete pour for the steam turbine generator foundation was completed. The first steam turbine and boiler parts have arrived on site.
Installation of the posts (pylons) that support the heliostats is underway in the Unit 1 solar field continues, and will total over 50,000 pylons in Unit 1 at completion. To reduce the amount of grading required in the solar field, the pylons are inserted directly into the ground, which allows vegetation to coexist with the solar field. No concrete is used in the installation of the pylons. Over four thousand pylons have been installed.
Unit 2
Earthwork, foundations and underground pipe work continues at the Unit 2 power block area. The first concrete pour for the plant service building foundation was completed. The “first pour” for the Unit 2 solar power tower / boiler foundation (approximately 500 truckloads of concrete) took place at the end of July.
Unit 3
Earthwork is in full production at the Unit 3 power block area. The main access road has been installed with crushed rock.
Transmission Update
Work continues on the berm for the switchyard, as well as installation of the 115kV cable structures throughout the site.
