first published week of: 05/23/2016
One of the boiler towers at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating facility. The concetrated solar power plant heats a boiler at the top of the tower to create steam, which runs a turbine. Credit: NRG Energy
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California had to be shut down
One of the world's largest solar power plants had to be shut down after a fire started by mirrors on a 452-ft high water boiler tower melted steam ducts and water pipes.
The fire at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California forced firefighters to climb 300 feet up the tower to a water boiler that's superheated by tens of thousands of mirror to create steam to run a turbine.
According to an AP report, San Bernardino County fire Capt. Mike McClintock said the small fire occurred about two-thirds of the way up the boiler tower. It was caused after some of the plant's mirrors became misaligned and focused the sun's rays on electrical cables, which caught fire.
The fire occurred about two-thirds of the way up the Unit 3 tower, according to a spokesman from the Nevada's Clark County Fire Department, which also responded. continued…