Which solar thermal power facility in California uses three towers surrounded by fields of heliostats?

The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California uses three power towers surrounded by fields of heliostats.

Located in the Mojave Desert near the California–Nevada border, Ivanpah began commercial operation in 2014. More than 170,000 computer-controlled mirrors track the Sun and reflect sunlight toward boilers at the tops of three towers. The concentrated heat produces steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity.

Ivanpah is a concentrating solar power facility, not a conventional photovoltaic solar farm. Photovoltaic panels convert light directly into electricity, while Ivanpah first converts sunlight into high-temperature heat. Its design was intended to produce power at utility scale without using fossil fuel as the primary energy source.

The project is often described as the world’s largest solar thermal power facility by several measures at its opening. It is also known for environmental and operational debates, including effects on desert wildlife and the challenges of maintaining concentrated-solar systems.