SunPower to construct 19MW solar power plant at Nellis Air Force Base

NV Energy has selected SunPower to build a 19MW direct current solar photovoltaic power system at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada, US.

Expected to be constructed in 2015, subject to contract approval by Nevada’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the system represents the second major solar installation at the airbase.

The company will now construct a SunPower Oasis power plant system, which is a fully integrated, modular solar power block engineered to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy utility-scale solar projects while optimising land use, at the airbase.

SunPower had also completed a 14MW (DC) solar power system at the facility in 2007.

SunPower regions president Howard Wenger said the company took nine months to build the 14MW plant at Nellis AFB in 2007, which was the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in the US at the time.

"Today, we can install more than one megawatt per day at our larger power plant sites, creating long-term value for our utility customers and competing effectively with traditional energy sources," Wenger added.

NV Energy renewable energy and origination vice president Stacey Kusters said the company look towards bringing more clean, renewable energy to power facilities and military operations at the base.

"Our partnership with SunPower is a key component of achieving our renewable energy goals at a competitive cost," Kusters added.

Once completed, the plant is expected to offset the annual production of almost 27,000t of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to estimates provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Image: SunPower to construct solar power plant at Nellis Air Force Base. Photo: courtesy of Pixomar/Freedigitalphotos.net.