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  • Author Author: Eavesdropper
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Project Amp to bring 733MW of solar rooftops

Eavesdropper
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A solar roof shopping plaza via solaraerials
 
The largest rooftop solar initiative is underway. Called Project Amp, the goal is to bring 733 Mega Watts (MW)of additional energy into the USA. The consortium consists of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Bank of America, and a collection of other public and private companies. Partially supported by the 2009 stimulus bill, $1.4 billion USD is already available with a conditional commitment from the DOE, and another $12 billion in reserves.
 
Phase 1 will come from 90% U.S. sources parts, and will take over 750 existing rooftops managed by Prologis. Beginning in Southern California, lead investor NRG Energy will oversee a 15.4 MW installation. All power will be sold to Southern California Edison.  Ultimately, 28 states and D.C. will benefit from this project. An estimated 1 million MWh of power will be generated annually, which they state as powering 88,000 homes. An environmentally friendly 580,000 tons of carbon pollution will be saved thanks to the effort. In this grand project, only 1,000 new jobs will be created.
 
Looks like Tata Steel and Dyesol's rooftop panels were a good idea with another $12 billion at stake for solar in the U.S.

Eavesdropper
  • in reply to Eavesdropper

    Actually, I am exploring an idea that could solve the reflection issue.  I can't talk about it just yet, but if I am right, I may have a way to extract more solar energy per square foot and nearly eliminate light reflection.

     

    I'll keep you posted as I get time to do some experiments.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    I forgot to mention, it will begin in California and expand to other states over the course of this first step. Keep in mind, the first 733 MW of solar will cost about $1.4 billion, but there is another 12 waiting to be used. Which if the project scales, could mean 6 Tera Watts could soon happen. I personally want to see every roof used for solar. Imagine an entire city looking like one big solar panel fro above.

     

    However, light reflection is an issue with solar panels. Every city would then look like a huge laser from a plane.

     

    E

  • Though I am disappointed that all of these are going to California, I am at least happy to see a movement to turn those useless roof tops into energy producing facilities.  Not to mention that the shading caused by the panels will probably reduce cooling requirements by a fair percentage during the summer.

     

    Thanks

    DAB