GigaOM reported Apple is working with Nevada utility NV Energy to have the solar panel farm power its new data center in Reno.
"[F]or the Reno solar farm, Apple is actually planning to use a new type of technology for the solar system, which includes both solar panels and also mirrors that concentrate the sun’s rays up to seven times onto the panels. That process increases the amount of power generated," it said.
The GigaOM report said Apple is already building two solar panel farms next to its data center in North Carolina.
Dubbed the “Ft. Churchill Solar Array,” the new facility is projected to provide 18 to 20 MW of power.
GigaOM said this was about the same size as its two solar plants in North Carolina.
"For an independent company (not a utility)—particular an internet company—18 to 20 MW is a very large solar system," it noted.
Meanwhile, Apple is working with solar company SunPower on the engineering and construction, and on the tracker technology to be used with the solar panels.
It had also worked with SunPower for its North Carolina solar farms, GigaOM said.
Clean power options
GigaOM said Apple’s partnership with NV Energy also shows how it seeks to work with utilities in states to create clean power options for data centers.
It noted Apple is one of the first companies to avail of a new green tariff that lets Apple pay for the cost of building the solar panel farm.
"Since Apple will assume the incremental building costs throughout the project, the rates of NV Energy’s other customers doesn’t have to go up. Duke Energy and Google are working on a similar (though slightly different) proposal in North Carolina," it said.
Also, NV Energy can also pay Apple to use or even eventually buy the solar farm and include it in its energy generating assets.
The Nevada state utility commission approved the green tariff on June 12, while Apple has an option to expand the solar farm as well.
In the meantime, Apple plans to also use local geothermal power—the Galena 3 geothermal facility—widely available in the Reno area.
The Apple Reno solar farm could create 100 jobs during the construction period.
Apple addressed the project in a statement:
"When completed, the 137 acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy, equivalent to taking 6,400 passenger vehicles off the road per year," it quoted Apple as saying.
For his part, NV Energy CEO Michael Yackira said they are excited to be in partnership with Apple on a new solar energy project.
This is the first project under our new Green Energy Program and allows customers such as Apple to choose to have a greater proportion of their energy coming from renewables than the law requires, without having a cost impact on other customers.
"Apple is looking to eventually use 100 percent clean power for its data centers through a combination of direct clean power generation, buying renewable energy credits and buying clean power from providers," GigaOM said. — VC, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
