What happens when a groundbreaking clean energy project can’t keep up with the times? The Ivanpah solar power plant , once celebrated as the world’s largest solar-thermal facility, is now facing closure just 11 years after its grand opening 5. Located in the Mojave Desert, this massive plant has struggled to compete with cheaper solar technologies and mounting environmental criticism.

The Reality Check: Why Ivanpah Is Failing

Cheaper Energy Takes the Spotlight

When Ivanpah opened in 2014, it was hailed as a breakthrough for clean energy. Using nearly 350,000 mirrors to reflect sunlight onto boilers atop towering structures, the plant generated electricity by heating water into steam 6. But advancements in photovoltaic (PV) solar technology—like rooftop panels—have made Ivanpah’s approach obsolete.

“Initially, the prices were competitive,” said NRG Energy Inc., one of the plant’s owners. “But advancements in photovoltaics and battery storage