US Army Wants to Build World’s Most Powerful Solar Array
Despite its recent foray into sustainable practices, the United States Army isn’t known as an environmental leader. Now the Army is trying to prove its greenness with the world’s strongest solar array. Yesterday, the Army announced that it plans to construct a 500 MW solar thermal plant in the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin. Currently, the United States’ largest solar array is a 15 MW plant at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas.
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According to yesterday’s press release, the Fort Irwin array will “provide renewable power on the grid and provide the sprawling Army post with added energy security against disruption of power supply.”
Unfortunately, the press release does not specify a time frame for the project. We’re left to wonder if the array is an empty promise meant to quell concerns about the Army’s massive energy consumption.
The Army also announced yesterday that it plans to buy 4,000 electric vehicles for maintenance staff, enter into a pilot energy savings performance contract with the private sector, and develop a 30 MW geothermal project in Nevada.
Photo Credit: Wired
“Yesterday, the Army announced that it plans to construct a 500 MW solar thermal plant in the Mojave Desert at Fort Irwin. ”
Why show a picture of solar PV? Why not show a picture of a banana plantation? That has the same relevance to solar thermal since it turns sunlight into ‘energy’. It’s about time the press started digging deeper into these issues and learn the vast differences between these two technologies. …Like how only one is viable and economic for a project of this size.
Todd, I am glad that you pointed that out. I was just about to do that.
Solar PV may work great if you are looking to put something on your roof and generate some electricity. However, Solar Thermal methods are much cheaper to build and are actually viable for large-scale, centrally generated power generation.
Don’t forget - the key phrase the writer wanted to get out was,
“Unfortunately, the press release does not specify a time frame for the project. We’re left to wonder if the array is an empty promise meant to quell concerns about the Army’s massive energy consumption.”
Accuracy or anything else had nothing to do with the article - only the dig.