Apple Plans 137-Acre Solar Farm to Power Reno Data Center

Apple is reportedly planning to build a massive 137 acre solar array in Reno, Nevada In conjunction with Nevada utility company NV Energy. The "Ft. Churchill Solar Array," as it will be called, will be an addition to Apple's two other solar farms next to its data center in North Carolina.

The new solar farm will provide 18 and 20 MW of power, which is about the same size as the one in North Carolina. A new type of solar technology will be used in the Reno plant however.

But for 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.

Apple is working with solar company SunPower on the engineering and construction, as well as the tracker technology that will be used with the solar panels. Apple also worked with SunPower for its North Carolina solar farms.

This project will not only supply energy for the data center but it will also provide energy to the local residents. "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,” Apple said.

It is estimated that Apple's new facility could support nearly 1000 jobs in the area.

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