A former Chevron refinery is the site for Project Brightfield, showcasing next-generation solar technology. The 7,700 solar panels on the eight-acre site are generating 740 kW of electricity. Power will be directed to the local utility grid as well as to Chevron's oil production operations at the Kern River.
The project won't just add clean energy to the state's energy mix. It will also serve as a laboratory to evaluate seven emerging photovoltaic technologies and determine the potential application of renewable power at other company facilities.
“By bringing together seven advanced solar technologies, Project Brightfield represents one of the most comprehensive solar energy tests of its kind and is an innovative approach to evaluating new technologies.”
— Des King, president of Chevron Technology Ventures
The former refinery site will test the performance of six thin-film technologies and one crystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology. The companies demonstrating thin-film technologies include: Abound Solar, MiaSolé, Schüco, Solar Frontier, Sharp, and Solibro, while the crystalline-silicon photovoltaic technology is provided by Innovalight.
Each company can access data about its technology, find out how well it performs in various conditions and compare it against a benchmark solar technology — commercially available solar photovoltaic technology — installed on site.
“Chevron has operated in the San Joaquin Valley for more than a century. Throughout this time, the company's engineers have developed breakthrough technologies that have helped make Chevron the leading oil and gas producer in the state," said Bruce Johnson, vice president of Chevron's San Joaquin Valley Business Unit. "The Brightfield solar demonstration facility is a clear example of Chevron's efforts to find ways to integrate innovative technologies into our business."