After the impact caused by the coverage of solar panels on this Chinese mountain, the world looks strange «Photovoltaic UFO» and 1000 million. It has been a complete failure. The importance of solar energy is growing every day around the world. As the planet faces environmental and economic challenges, the… photovoltaic context It is shown as a feasible and sustainable solution. Solar energy is an inexhaustible and renewable resource, meaning that it is continuously available and will not be depleted in the short term.
Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and run out quickly, solar energy comes from nature Solthat dissipates a virtually unlimited amount of energy. Every hour the Tierra obtains more energy than all of humanity could use in a year.
As a result, solar energy is appreciated all over the world photovoltaic projects that challenge what has been researched. One of its main benefits is that it helps reduce human dependence on fossil fuels.
Countries are trying to diversify their energy sources and as this happens, solar energy is emerging as a viable alternative. Furthermore, producing electricity from sunlight eliminates the spread of greenhouse gases present when burning fossil fuels.
This aspect is crucial in the fight against climate change, as reducing these emissions is essential to limit global warming and its devastating impact.
The failure of a strange ‘photovoltaic UFO’ still reverberates years later
One of the most resounding failures in the history of solar photovoltaics is the “OVNI Photovoltaic” Crescent Dunes. This seen from above incredible solar power station with 10,000 mirrors in the shape of a spiral more than 3 kilometers wide, it looked like a real one «Photovoltaic UFO».
These mirrors wound around a skyscraper in the middle of the desert. Vegas j Reno. The facility absorbed enough heat to spin steam turbines and store the energy in the form of molten salt.
In 2011, the $1 billion (€892 million) project was ‘sold’ as the project largest solar power plant in its category. Citi Group and other financial companies invested $140 million in the driver, Solar reserve.
For his part, Steven Chu, Secretary of the US Department of Energy at that time provided the business loans guaranteed by the United States Government. Harry ReidSo Senator from Nevadapaved the way for the company to build its factory on public lands. Everything was ready to embrace success, but something happened.
Solar reserve is accused of maladministration Half Moon Duneswhere taxpayers invested $737 million in guaranteed loans. The end of 2019 is Half Moon Dunes He lost his only client, NV Energyin which the lack of reliability came to light as a reason to stop demanding the electricity coming from the plant. When the factory opened in 2015, the superior efficiency of other solar panels had already surpassed this technology. «Photovoltaic UFO».
A ‘photovoltaic UFO’ that seemed to go far ended in absolute failure
A technology that is now outdated. It was designed to produce enough energy to power a city the size of about 1.5 km Sparks (with a population of 100,000 people), but never came close to reaching that capacity.
NV Energyowned by Berkshire Hathawaythe company of the renowned American investor Warren Buffetthad to wait several months before terminating his employment with Solar reserve. Half Moon Dunes It has been closed since April 2019 and the Ministry of Energy took control in August of that same year, according to a lawsuit filed by Solar reserve in a court of law Delaware who wants to reverse the expropriation.
In 2019, NV Energy indicted Solar reserve for breach of contract and terminated the power purchase agreement. The cost of maintaining the facility and employee salaries made the project unviable after the loss of its only customer, resulting in the closure of the plant.
The investors of Half Moon Dunes They withdrew their support and filed a lawsuit Solar reserve due to poor capital management. The following year, Half Moon Dunes was declared bankrupt. It was then that the factory was expropriated by the Government.
This “photovoltaic UFO” was given a second chance
Half Moon Dunes It was much more of a failure than because of the salt tank problems. The plant can produce electricity, but at too high a price: $135 per MWh, while a photovoltaic solar farm offers prices of less than $30 per MWh.
Despite everything, the debt was suspended with the payment of 200 million dollars. Half Moon Dunes It reopened in 2021 and is now owned by ACS and with a new contract with NV Energy. In 2023 it generated 80,236 MWh.
The stranger «Photovoltaic UFO» and 1 billion was a complete failure that is still talked about. A scenario that is completely at odds with what is expected to be achieved with the solar panels that now cover the Alps.