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PV System Completed at Nellis Air Force Base

December 18, 2007 | 2 Comments

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Las Vegas, Nevada [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The U.S. Air Force announced the completion of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at Nellis Air Force Base. A joint project of the U.S. Air Force, MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, SunPower Corporation, and Nevada Power Company, the 14-megawatt (MW) system will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and supply approximately 25 percent of the total power used at the base.

"As the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, the Air Force is well-positioned to promote both solar technology and new approaches to its implementation."

--William Anderson, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Air Force

SunPower designed and built the PV plant using its single-axis SunPower T20 Tracker solar tracking system. MMA Renewable Ventures has financed and will operate the plant, selling electricity to Nellis Air Force Base at a guaranteed fixed rate for the next 20 years.

"This solar project at Nellis is a first step of many toward making renewable electricity integral to the operations of the U.S. Air Force," said Air Force Assistant Secretary William Anderson. "As the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, the Air Force is well-positioned to promote both solar technology and new approaches to its implementation. This pioneering initiative is a good example of how a creative approach to public-private partnership can make our energy supply more sustainable, more secure and more affordable."

Solar Energy

2 Reader Comments

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jeff-anderson-44139

November 19, 2008

According to reports I have read it's been estimated that this solar power plant would save $1 million a year. This sound great, but the solar power plant costed $100 million to install. So this would take over 100 years to recover the investment. A pay back of over 20 years do not make sence. Most PV panels will last more than 20 years. And lot of them could make it to 30 years. But going past 40 I don't think so.

Comment
2 of 2

jimmarett

July 31, 2009

Jeff Anderson - it's a power purchase agreement. Nellis doesn't pay anything, and receives the $1m annaul savings with nothing down on their part. They now pay their energy bilsl to investors, who covered the $100m, instead of the utility.

If Renewable Energy World is getting this wrong, it's no wonder the MSM does a poor job of covering renewables as well.

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