Nellis Solar Power Plant

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Solar array at Nellis Air Force Base. These panels track the sun in one axis. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.

Nellis Solar Power Plant, the largest photovoltaic power plant in North America

The Nellis Solar Power Plant is the largest solar photovoltaic system in North America,^[1] and is located within Nellis Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, on the northeast side of Las Vegas. The Nellis solar energy system will generate in excess of 25 million kilowatt-hours (kW·h) of electricity annually and supply more than 25 percent of the power used at the base.^[2] The system was inaugurated in a ceremony on December 17, 2007, with Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons activating full operation of the 14 megawatt (MW) array.^[3][4]

Occupying 140 acres (0.57 km²) of land leased from the Air Force at the western edge of the base, this ground-mounted solar system employs an advanced sun tracking system, designed and deployed by PowerLight subsidiary of SunPower. The system contains approximately 70,000 solar panels, and the peak power generation capacity of the plant is approximately 14 MW.^[2] This means the ratio of average to peak output, or capacity factor, of this plant is around 20%.

The energy generated will support more than 12,000 military and civilians at Nellis who are responsible for Air Force advanced combat training, tactics development and operational testing. Construction began on April 23, 2007,^[2] and operation of the first 5 MW began on October 12.^[5]

[edit] Economics

Under the terms of the Power Purchase Agreement, MMA Renewable Ventures, who own the panels, is leasing the land at no cost and Nellis is agreeing to buy the power for 20 years at about 2.2 cents/kW·h, instead of the 9 cents they are paying to Nevada Power, saving the Air Force $1 million each year. None of the $100 million cost came from the Air Force, but instead from subsidizing taxpayers and Nevada Power customers who are paying for the RPS credits.^[6]

The partners will be able to build the plant, recover costs and produce electricity at a savings, because of the fairly complex financing structure arranged among MMA, its investors, Nevada Power, and Nellis — in addition to multimillion-dollar government incentives.^[7]

[edit] Renewable portfolio standard

Solar field of 70,000 panels at completion in December 2007

In 1997 Nevada passed a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) as part of their 1997 Electric Restructuring Legislation (AB 366) It required any electric providers in the state to acquire actual renewable electric generation or purchase renewable energy credits so that each utility had 1 percent of total consumption in renewables. However, on June 8, 2001, Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn signed SB 372, at the time the country's most aggressive renewable portfolio standard. The law requires that 15 percent of all electricity generated in Nevada be derived from new renewables by the year 2013.^[8]

The 2001 revision to the RPS keeps in place Nevada's commitment to expand solar energy resources by requiring that at least 5 percent of the renewable energy projects must generate electricity from solar energy.^[8]

In June 2005, the Nevada legislature passed a bill during a special legislative session that modified the Nevada RPS (Assembly Bill 03). The bill extends the deadline and raised the requirements of the RPS to 20 percent of sales by 2015.^[8]

[edit] Presidential visit

President Obama visited the facility on May 27, 2009.^[9]

[edit] See also

Energy portal

• Photovoltaic power stations
• Renewable energy in the United States
• Renewable portfolio standard
• Solar power
• Solar power in Nevada

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Hi-res image
• Largest Solar-Power Generation Station in U.S. to be at Nellis
• Real time monitor

Coordinates: 36°15′30″N 115°3′10″W / 36.25833°N 115.05278°W / 36.25833; -115.05278