Searchlight Solar

Solar power plant in Nevada, United States of America. Approximate location 35.4797, -114.9361.

SolarNevadaUnited States of America

Searchlight Solar is a 18 MW solar power plant in Nevada, United States of America. It is operated by Searchlight Solar LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 48 GWh, it can supply roughly 13,714 homes. It ranks #3984 of 9,833 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 8.6% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).

18MW installed capacity
48GWh reported / yr
13,714homes powered
2015commissioned (~11 yrs)

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0059404.

In context: how this plant compares

At 18 MW, Searchlight Solar is well above the median solar plant in United States of America (3 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Reported generation trend

2014: 2 GWh20142015: 48 GWh20152016: 49 GWh20162017: 48 GWh20172018: 49 GWh20182019: 48 GWh201949 GWh

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Searchlight Solar LLC.

Local climate & thermal context

This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 35.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

18.2°Cannual mean temp
1,251heating degree-days (base 18°C)
1,341cooling degree-days (base 18°C)
983 melevation

Monthly mean temperature

J: 8 °CJF: 10 °CFM: 12 °CMA: 16 °CAM: 21 °CMJ: 27 °CJJ: 30 °CJA: 29 °CAS: 25 °CSO: 19 °CON: 12 °CND: 8 °CD30 °C

Heating degree-days here run 49% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 30/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

In colder climates, uninsulated hot equipment (boilers, turbines, valves, steam lines) loses proportionally more heat to ambient air — exactly the loss Inzonex modular insulation is designed to cut.

Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 1.8% at warm-season highs here (estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #449 largest solar power plant of 3283 in United States of America by capacity.

United States of America has 3283 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 37,970 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

Location

Coordinates 35.4797, -114.9361 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Cutting heat loss at this plant

Plants like this lose energy through hot turbines, heat exchangers, valves and steam lines. Inzonex makes removable, reusable turbine & heat-exchanger insulation that cuts that loss by up to 90% and holds surface temperatures under 45°C, unclipping in seconds for maintenance. See the industrial-AI efficiency hub for tools and benchmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What type of power plant is Searchlight Solar?

Searchlight Solar is a 18 MW solar power plant in Nevada, United States of America, commissioned in 2015.

How much electricity does Searchlight Solar generate?

Searchlight Solar generates about 48 GWh of electricity per year.

How many homes can Searchlight Solar power?

Its output is enough to supply roughly 13,714 homes.

Who owns or operates Searchlight Solar?

Searchlight Solar is operated by Searchlight Solar LLC.

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