In a significant development, the Gemini project, located in Nevada’s Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, has emerged as the largest co-located solar-plus-battery storage system in the United States. Spanning an expansive 6,500-acre area, this pioneering initiative features a massive 690 MW solar array paired with a substantial 380 MW battery system boasting a storage capacity of 1.4 GWh.
Gemini, a collaboration between Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners and Primergy Solar, is anticipated to generate sufficient clean energy to power over 260,000 households while playing a crucial role in offsetting approximately 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The commercial launch of operations followed the procurement of a 25-year offtake contract with NV Energy, a leading utility serving regions across both northern and southern Nevada.
Distinguished by its innovative DC-coupled storage configuration, Gemini allows direct recharging of the battery from the solar array, eliminating the need for multiple inverters and significantly enhancing operational efficiency by enabling direct solar panel charging.
The project incorporates cutting-edge technology, including the lithium iron phosphate-based EnerOne outdoor battery energy storage system supplied by Chinese manufacturer CATL, acclaimed for its extended service life and integrated liquid cooling system for temperature control. Additionally, the solar array integrates shingled bifacial Performance 5 solar modules from Maxeon Solar Technologies, renowned for their high efficiency and resilience in challenging desert environments.
Despite the success of the Gemini project, Nevada faces challenges in expanding its solar-plus-storage capacity due to market dynamics and procurement hurdles, leading to the cancellation or postponement of several significant projects in recent times. To address resource adequacy concerns, NV Energy is actively working to bolster its energy storage capacity to manage peak loads and meet ambitious clean energy targets set by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
As the energy landscape evolves, projects like Gemini serve as beacons of innovation, underscoring the crucial role of renewable energy in shaping a sustainable future for Nevada and beyond.