KJC Operating Company, 41100 Highway 395, Boron, California, 93516, U.S.A.

Telephone: (760) 762-5562, Facsimile: (760) 762-5546

E-mail (S. Frier): sfrier@kjcsolar.com, E-mail (R. Cable): rcable@kjcsolar.com

During the mid-1980s, Luz International Limited developed a total of nine SEGS (Solar Electric Generating System) plants in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. Utilizing Luz single-axis parabolic trough collectors, the SEGS range from 13.8 to 80 MWe in nameplate capacity. Five of the nine SEGS are located at a single facility at Kramer Junction, California. Each of the Kramer SEGS has a nameplate rated capacity of 30 MWe net and contributes to making the Kramer facility the world’s largest producer of solar energy. The Kramer SEGS are independently owned by a number of institutional investors organized into limited partnerships and are operated by KJC Operating Company (KJC OC)¾ a wholly-owned subsidiary of the managing general partner created for the sole purpose of providing operations and maintenance services to the SEGS. In firm operation since 1987, the Kramer SEGS facility can boast in representing 50 years of cumulative operating experience.

This paper will first lend a general overview and history of the technology utilized in the Kramer Junction SEGS. Next, historic performance trends will be shown with discussions that emphasize increased solar production with a trend toward less losses, higher equipment availability, and plant efficiency characteristics. These are shown due to the direct relationship of solar thermal collection of solar energy produced in addition to the amount of supplemental natrual gas use allowed under current regulations. The gross solar and boiler electric sales revenues of the SEGS are solely dependent on the amount of solar energy collected annually. Operations and maintenance strategies, therefore, revolve around the maintaining high equipment availability and minimizing potential lost solar production. Lastly, due to changing Power Purchase agreements and an upcoming deregulated market place occuring in California, current and future operational strategies will be discussed. Here will be shown, how the operational strategies optimize revenue under these new circumstances.

Keywords: SEGS, solar thermal electric, parabolic trough, solar performance, operating strategy, maintenance strategy, Power Purchase agreement, deregulation.