The much-anticipated Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System just kicked into action in California's Mojave Desert. The 14.5 million square meters facility is the world's largest solar thermal energy plant, and it has the backing of some major players; Google, NRG Energy, Bright Source Energy and Bechtel have all invested in the project, which is constructed on federally-leased public land. The first of Ivanpah's three towers is now feeding energy into the grid, and once the site is fully operational it will produce 392 megawatts - enough to power 140 thousand homes while reducing carbon emissions by 400 thousand tons per year. Ivanpah is comprised of 300 thousand sun-tracking mirrors (heliostats), which surround three, 140 meters towers. The sunlight concentrated from these mirrors heats up water contained within the towers to create super-heated steam which then drives turbines on the site to produce power. The first successfully operating unit will sell power to California's Pacific Gas and Electric, as will Unit 3 when it comes online in the coming months. Unit 2 is also set to come online shortly, and will provide power to Southern California Edison. Construction began on the facility in 2010. Last year we reported , that the outlines of a massive solar thermal power plant-the largest ever-are starting to appear in the wilderness outside of Las Vegas. In March of this year achieved it's first "flux", a crucial test which proved its readiness to begin commercial operation. Tests on September 23 formed Ivanpah's "first sync" which began feeding power into the grid. As John Upton at Grist points out, the project is not without its critics, noting that some "have questioned why a solar plant that uses water would be built in the desert - instead of one that uses photovoltaic panels," while others have been upset by displacement of local wildlife-notably 100 endangered desert tortoises. But the Ivanpah plant still constitutes a major milestone, both globally as the world's largest solar thermal energy plant, and locally for the significant contribution it will make towards California's renewable energy goal of achieving 3,000 MW of solar generating capacity through public utilities and private ownership.

It might seem ironic that the oil-rich Middle East also holds nearly half of the world's renewable energy potential -but last month the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, officially inaugurated Shams 1, the largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in the world. The plant was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, and it cost US$ 600 million and took three years to build. It's owned by Masdar, Abengoa Solar and Total. This gargantuan power plant covers almost 2.5 million square meters - the equivalent of about 285 football fields. According to Masdar, it will generate enough electricity to power 20 thousand homes in the United Arab Emirates. It will also displace 175 thousand tons of CO2 per year - the equivalent of planting 1.5 million trees or taking 15 thousand cars off the road. Though Abu Dhabi has made a considerable investment in CSP, key members of Shams Power Company foresee most of the country's renewable energy coming from solar photovoltaic systems to meet its 2020 energy target of producing 7% of its total energy from renewable. This is because photovoltaic systems are cheaper, faster to build and are able to be installed in more locations than CSP systems. It is good to see a region so rich in oil look to grow its renewable energy potential. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar states, "the inauguration of Shams 1 is a breakthrough for renewable energy development in the Middle East. With the demand for energy rising exponentially, the region is undergoing a major transformation in how it generates electricity. In fact, the Middle East is poised for major investments in renewables, and Shams 1 proves the economic and environmental advantage of deploying large-scale solar projects."

A mosque set to be built in the western province of Bursa will use solar and wind power to produce electricity. Nilufer Trade Center Mosque, which is set to be completed in 2015, may be the first mosque in Turkey that produces and uses renewable energy. Celik Erengezgin, the architect of the mosque project, believes that the project will be an example for other mosques. Solar panels will be placed on top of the mosque. A wind turbine will be installed on the minaret. Also snow and rain water will be collected for the worshippers' water needs. The mosque will produce its own energy and sell what it does not use. The mosque will produce 120 kilowatt of electricity but consumes only 50 kilowatt. The remaining amount can be sold to the state. Erengezgin said Turkey's Religious Affairs Department had responded positively to his project. He also wanted to produce electricity from the pressure exerted on the floor by the worshippers during prayers. This is not part of the current project but he hopes to implement it also. "We will tell the worshippers, you can charge your cell phones here, because you have produced this energy, while praying on the floor of the mosque".

A groundbreaking ceremony is hosted last week in celebration of the start of construction of Japan's largest solar and wind power plant, located in Tahara City. The major project will be spread over 800 thousand square meters and is estimated to generate 67.5 thousand megawatt hours of electricity each year which would be enough to power 90 percent of the homes in Tahara City with green energy. It is also thought that the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions each year will be approximately 32 thousand tones. The solar and wind power plant is part of a collaboration of seven firms (Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsui & Co, C-Tech Corporation, Toagosei Co, Toshiba Corporation, Toray Industries, and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co) who initiated the project last October, with permission granted in September 2012. Design and construction on the plant is US$ 225 million with the majority of the money being sourced through loans from the Development Bank of Japan. The participating companies will maintain a cooperative technological relationship with the Chubu Electric Power Co., and will acquire new technology and knowledge unique to the nation's largest solar energy generation facility.

London's Blackfriars Tube station is on its way to becoming the world's largest solar bridge. Stretching across South Bank a stone's throw from the Tate Modern, the busy station, built by Solarcentury, has already reached the halfway point to completion. Construction on the world's largest solar bridge began on October 2011. Blackfriars Tube station is still fully functioning, ferrying Londoners and tourists from the popular South Bank promenade to areas all over the city. Yet construction is still underway across the bridge's rooftop. Heavy scaffolding is slowly being removed to reveal the 4,400 solar panels that will serve the station, pumping 900 thousand kWh of solar energy back into the grid each year. The solar powerhouse will also reduce CO2 emissions by 511 tons per year, all while promptly serving commuters with uninterrupted service around the city. The gorgeous Victorian bridge is the only bearing solar panels along the River Thames. With stellar city views, boats pass under the bridge's arches throughout the day, while the station serves 24 trains per hour. Pedestrians strolling along the South Bank walk way pass under the historic bridge, check out the progress of its solar modernization. The idyllic scene could be just a glimpse of London's future. With over 100 bridges crossing the River Thames throughout the city, adding additional solar arrays on any of them could drastically reduce the city's consumption of fossil fuels, and ensure a source of clean energy for generations to come, reducing emissions and overall carbon footprint.