For 15 years following its construction in 1990, SEGS VIII–IX was the largest commercial solar power plant in the world, generating around 160 MW at its peak.

The power plant cost an estimated $1.6 billion in total and entered commercial operation in December 2014.

[2] The developer, Abengoa, has successfully secured a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the US government for the project.

There is a gas-fired auxiliary boiler, for each field, only to provide equipment and heat-transfer fluid (HTF) freeze protection, when temperatures fall below 54 °F (12 °C).

The E2 steel frame collector with monolithic glass reflector panels, yields a total aperture area of 691.2 square metres (7,440 sq ft).