A huge sustainable energy project is in the works between Tesla Energy, Switch, and Capital Dynamics. The project named “Gigawatt 1” is expected to generate 555MW of solar power and create 800MWh of battery storage for Nevada. The new project has the potential to become one of the largest solar and battery installations in the entire world.
The Gigawatt 1 project will include three key solar and battery installations. According to the firms involved in the initiative work has already begun in facilities at Clark and Storey County and will be “the largest behind-the-meter solar project in the world” with its 127MW/240MWh size.
Tesla’s flagship energy project, the Megapack, will be utilized for the Gigawatt 1 project. In an announcement last year regarding the Megapack, Tesla stated the larger battery units have a 60% increase in energy density over the Powerpack. In addition, it boasts up to 3 MWh of storage per pack.
The Megapack is designed specifically for quick installation and comes with an AC interface. It’s DC connectivity for solar grids allows it to be classified as a “plug and play” solution. Tesla stated during an announcement of its battery “Using Megapack, Tesla can deploy an emissions-free 250 MW, 1 GWh power plant in less than three months on a three-acre footprint – four times faster than a traditional fossil fuel power plant of that size.”
Aside from the Gigawatt 1 initiative potentially resulting in one of the largest solar projects in the world, it will also be an essential addition to Rob Roy’s Gigawatt Nevada initiative. In support of the initiative, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak stated “In the midst of this unprecedented moment in our state’s history, Switch and its partners are investing US$1.3 billion, creating over a thousand new jobs and accelerating Nevada’s leadership in the world’s renewable energy economy.”