Hesperia-Lugo: In 1982, a 1 MW single crystal silicon PV plant was installed in the Mojave desert area of Southern California near the town of Hesperia, 160 km east of Los Angeles. This system was privately financed and built by ARC0 Solar Inc. The flat-plate modules are mounted on 108 two-axis trackers and have a total may area of 10275 m2. Although rated at 500 kW each, the two segments of the plant had measured outputs of only 362 kW and 367 kW. The ac energy produced by the plant is sold to the Southern California Edison Company and is connected to their Lugo substation, located next to the PV plant. In 1989, the plant produced 2208 MWh (ax.), achieved over 96% availability, and had a capacity factor of over 36%. These factors are listed in Table 1. Because of the present world-wide market
for PV modules, the value of the modules is greater than the value of the energy produced, and the modules are being removed from the trackers and sold. The plant continues to operate, albeit at decreasing levels of output