Washington, DC: The U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced May 11 the approval of a proposal to construct and operate what they are calling the largest solar project in United States history.
Solar Partners XI, LLC plans to build a 690-MW photovoltaic solar electric generating facility and ancillary facilities about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas, for energy markets there and potentially in Southern California. The company says its estimated $1 billion Gemini Solar Project could be the eighth-largest solar power facility in the world when finished.
The project is expected to be constructed in two phases. The first phase of power could come on-line in 2021, with final completion as early as 2022. It includes a 380 MW, 1,400 MWh battery storage system.
Nevada Energy’s 50-megawatt Boulder Solar II power plant
The project is just part of a plan by Nevada utility NV Energy for a total of nearly 1.2 gigawatts of solar and 590 megawatts of batteries. Two other projects complete the total: 8Minute Energy’ Southern Bighorn project, with 300 megawatts of solar and a 135-megawatt/540-megawatt-hour battery system, and Arrow Canyon by EDF, with 200 megawatts of solar with 75-megawatts / 375-megawatt-hours of battery storage.
NV Energy’s total plan received approval from state regulators last December.