The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California’s Mojave Desert, once the world’s biggest solar plant, is closing early—more than a decade ahead of schedule. The $2.2 billion project launched in 2014 with three giant towers and 174,000 mirrors designed to convert sunlight into electricity.
Despite high hopes, Ivanpah never produced the energy it promised. Remarkably, it needed natural gas to keep running, which defeated its green purpose. Experts call it a government-subsidized failure, producing less than expected amid rising costs.
NRG Energy and other owners say the plant was successful but couldn’t keep up with cheaper, more efficient photovoltaic solar panels now dominating the market. Environmentalists add that the plant damaged desert habitats and killed thousands of birds yearly.
The facility will start shutting down in early 2026, with plans to repurpose the site for newer solar technology.
