The Department of the Army and Fort Irwin have signed memorandum of understanding with the joint venture created by Acciona Solar Power and the Clark Energy Group to develop approximately 500 MW of solar power, a figure that could be increased to 1,000 MW at a later stage. The project will involve concentrating solar power and photovoltaic technology and is the US Department of Defence’s largest-ever solar project.
“To be selected for this project is an indication of the trust that one of the world’s most technologically advanced organizations places in Acciona’s ability to develop renewable projects. It also confirms our position as an active player in the US clean energies market,” said Alberto de Miguel, development director, Acciona Energy.
The announcement follows a competitive bid process opened in March by the US Army’s Senior Energy Council, a body created in October 2008 to accelerate and oversee a sustainable energy strategy aimed at finding alternative energy sources, obtaining increased energy savings and securing energy supplies for US Army installations, personnel, vehicles and other assets. A federal mandate requires the US Army to reduce its energy consumption by 30% by 2015 (compared to 2003) and to cover 25% of its energy needs with renewable energies by 2025.
The project is at an initial stage and studies are being carried out to identify the most suitable and efficient technological solutions. Construction will take place over a relatively long period of time and will be staggered in several phases: by 2014, the first site development should be sufficiently advanced to cover Fort Irwin’s total energy needs. “The Fort Irwin solar power project is an example of how the US Army can lead the nation forward towards a future of energy security,” said Kevin Geiss, energy security program director, US Army.
The Fort Irwin project is part of the Army’s “Enhanced Use Leasing” (EUL) program, designed to allow private sector entities “to acquire and leverage value from under-utilised non-excess real estate assets on Army and select Department of Defence Installations.” In accordance with EUL requirements, the project will be financed and developed by both companies – costs are expected to come to approximately $2 billion – who will deliver services in kind (e.g., operation and maintenance) in exchange for the lease of military land holdings. Any excess electricity produced can be sold to the grid via two high-power transmission lines in the vicinity of Fort Irwin.
The Defence Department’s largest-ever solar energy project
Fort Irwin is located in the Mojave Desert, one of the areas with the most hours of sunlight in the whole of the US, making the base an ideal site for solar generating technology. The complex stands midway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas at a location similar to the site of the 64 MW Nevada Solar One concentrating solar power (CSP) facility, installed by Acciona Solar Power 82 miles southeast of Las Vegas. With an initial capacity of 500 MW, the Fort Irwin solar power project will be the Defence Department's largest, easily exceeding the 14 MW solar plant at Nellis Air Force Base (Nevada) and the 2 MW installation at Fort Carson (Colorado). The new solar facilities are expected to produce approximately 1,000 GWh annually, far exceeding Fort Irwin’s 35 MW peak load. The project will target the sale of generated energy that is not used by the Fort Irwin complex to regional public utilities.
“Fort Irwin is proud to host this groundbreaking effort by the Department of the Army in partnership with Clark and Acciona Solar Power,” said Colonel Jim Chevalier, garrison commander, Fort Irwin. “The plant is the largest solar project in the state and it illustrates the commitment of Fort Irwin and the Army to incorporate environmental stewardship at all levels of operations.”
For additional information:
