The U.S. military chooses Acciona major project for renewable

The Corps Army of the United States has selected a consortium of Acciona, through its subsidiary Acciona Solar Power, Energy and Clark, to develop a macro-solar.

The facility will have 500 MW and will entail an investment of 2,000 million dollars in the first phase. Will rise in a most emblematic military facilities from the U.S. military: the military complex of Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert (California), where the largest field of training troops in the country, as well as space communication center NASA's Goldstone.

The Army and the companies just signed a memorandum of understanding that represents the beginning of the project, as reported by the own company Acciona.

The selection corresponds to a process of open competition in March by the Energy Council of the Army (Army Senior Energy Council), a body created in October 2008 to promote a sustainable energy strategy aimed at finding alternative sources for savings and security of supply facilities, crews, vehicles and other assets in the U.S. Army.

By federal mandate, the U.S. military should be reduced by 30% its energy consumption by 2015 (based on 2003) and 25% of demand must be met by renewable sources by 2025.
Different technologies

The joint proposal by Acciona Solar Power and Energy Clark sees the development of a 500 MW solar-expandable to 1,000 MW at a later stage, thermal and photovoltaic technologies, so it represents the largest solar project to date provided by the Department of Defense.

Well exceeds the 14 MW PV installed in 2007 at Nellis Air Force Base, also in Nevada, and 2 MW of Fort Carson, Colorado (the largest of the Army to date).

The facilities will be implemented in five locations previously identified by the military experts, numbering a total area of 5,600 hectares.

The project is in an early stage. By 2013 it expects to produce the first kilowatts in a 20 MW PV plant. The remaining plants will combine photovoltaic and solar thermal technology and would be completed by 2022.

The project of 500 MW will result in a significant boost to jobs in the area. Are estimated at 4,000 direct jobs generated by the project in its construction phase.
Previous experience

The Mojave Desert, which is Fort Irwin, is one of the areas with higher levels of insolation in the U.S.. The resort is situated midway between Los Angeles (California) and Las Vegas (Nevada), in an environment very similar to the host plant Nevada Solar One solar thermal power, 64 MW installed by Acciona Solar Power June aen 2007.