Construction on North America’s largest solar PV system – a 15 megawatt system with 70,000 panels – has begun at Nellis Air Force Base.
Spearheading the project is a team that includes the United States Air Force, Nevada Power Company, MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, and PowerLight Corp.
The Nellis solar energy system will generate in excess of 25 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and supply more than 25% of the power used at the base. Occupying 140 acres of land leased from the Air Force at the western edge of the base, the ground-mounted solar system will employ an advanced sun tracking system, designed and deployed by PowerLight.
70,000 solar panels and the patented PowerLight PowerTracker® will capture up to 30% more energy than an equivalent ground-mounted fixed-tilt system. Rated at approximately 15 megawatts (MW), the array will generate the power of a rooftop solar system with a rating of approximately 18 MW.
MMA Renewable Ventures will finance, own and operate the landmark system and sell the power to Nellis under the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
“The Nellis solar power plant is the start of the way ahead for future DoD and community partnership,” said Col. Michael Bartley, commander of the 99th Air Base Wing at Nellis. “The base will benefit from the energy produced, the environment benefits from using clean solar energy, and we may even test state-of-the-art security measures at the site. This is a good thing for everyone.”
“In addition to its sheer size and the Air Force’s impressive dedication to furthering renewable energy deployment, the Nellis project demonstrates how a carefully crafted third-party finance solution can effectively meet the needs of even the largest federal and municipal energy consumers,” said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures.
Loading...