A record-breaking rooftop solar array is to be built by Tesla at its Gigafactory 1 (GF1) in Nevada, USA. According to Ecowatch, the 70-megawatt system will be the world’s largest by a long stretch.
The GF1 factory is already an ‘all-electric’ site; the company claims no fossil fuels are directly consumed there. The huge GF1 is being constructed in phases so that Tesla can make products there during the expansion. When GF1 is completed later in 2018, it will have the largest footprint of any building in the world. It currently occupies 1.9 million square feet and two-thirds remains to be built.
An earlier statement from Tesla announcing the plans said: “We will be using 100 percent sustainable energy through a combination of a 70 megawatt solar rooftop array and solar ground installations. The solar rooftop array is 7x larger than the largest rooftop solar system installed today.”
How could solar work for you?
As Tesla’s bold ambitions show, renewable energy is not just about green credentials, it makes great business sense, too. They’re making use of a major – but often overlooked – asset; their roof. Generating clean, green energy through a rooftop solar array is an increasingly popular way to boost the bottom line.
Investment choices may mean that some businesses are missing out on monetising this asset, as they invest in alternative projects to meet their required Internal Rate of Return (IRR). At Zestec, we work with clients to help them achieve long-term financial savings through a fully funded solar PV Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Not only do clients benefit from the reduced cost of electricity from day one of the solar PV system being installed, but they’re also protected from volatile energy bill increases as the PPA is locked into retail price inflation.
Capital deployment decisions aren’t always easy; especially when Corporate Social Responsibility pressures are mounting. This is another area where the PPA helps delivers choice as it still addresses the important aspect of reducing carbon emissions but removes the ‘either/or’ investment decision.
It’s a solution that delivers the best of both worlds; low-cost energy for clients without the upfront cost of installing a solar PV system. As battery storage and electric vehicle charging technologies continue to improve – thanks to the innovation of companies like Tesla – solar will become an even more attractive source of power.