Array Technologies will supply nearly 1 GW DuraTrack v3 single-axis Solar Trackers for the Gemini Solar Project. It will be the largest US operational solar + storage facility, according to Primergy Solar. The project will store more than 1.4GWh of solar energy and is valued at more than $1B. The project is being managed by Kiewit Power Constructors Co. as the engineering, procurement, and construction company.
“As solar energy accounts for an increasing portion of the world’s electricity supply, energy storage will play a crucial role in optimizing renewables and ensuring power is available during periods of peak demand,” says Travis Rose, chief revenue officer at Array Technologies. “Project Gemini is historic for its size and scale, and we are well-positioned to optimize it for maximum energy generation while limiting installation time, LCOE and maintenance requirements.”
Array’s trackers are scheduled to begin deliveries in Q2 of 2022 with project completion planned for the end of 2023. The project site is located in Overton, Nevada on Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It will supply power for Nevada Energy, a public utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in northern and southern Nevada.
The photovoltaic plants will be able, thanks to their energy storage capabilities, to only discharge energy when there is high demand and low supply. This would be during peak afternoon/evening hours of summer. Gemini’s sophisticated control platform will use an energy management system (EMS) to determine the opportunity cost of discharging the battery compared to passing PV-generated energy directly to the grid. Gemini’s EMS will incorporate daily, seasonal and yearly data into its decision-making capability.
“Kiewit is excited to bring our extensive EPC experience and capabilities to the Gemini solar project, which will feature Array’s innovative solar tracking technology,” states Chris Turnbull, Kiewit’s president. “Gemini is a landmark project that will have a lasting impact on the availability of renewable energy sources in Nevada.”