How much land do solar thermal plants require?
The answer depends on two factors: a) the solar insularity (see FAQ 3) of the plant location, and b) the specific technology being used. In general, a typical 100 MW solar thermal plant will occupy 600 to 800 acres. Installing solar power plants on an area covering only 1% of the Mojave Desert would provide enough solar power to serve 75% of the homes in California.
