Apple to Build New Solar Farm in Reno to Power Data Centre

Apple announced today it has plans to build a new solar farm in Reno to power its adjacent Nevada data centre and eventually the surrounding community, reports AllThingsD:

“All of Apple’s data centers use 100 percent renewable energy, and we are on track to meet that goal in our new Reno data center using the latest in high-efficiency concentrating solar panels,” Apple said in a statement. “This project will not only supply renewable energy for our data center but also provide clean energy to the local power grid, through a first-of-its-kind partnership with NV Energy.”

“When completed, the 137 acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy, equivalent to taking 6,400 passenger vehicles off the road per year,” Apple said.

Back in March the company announced existing data centres were using 100 per cent renewable energy, via solar, wind and fuel cells. Apple’s Maiden, North Carolina data centre is powered by the “nation’s largest end user-owned onsite solar array,” and it appears the Nevada location will follow suit.

Below is a video flyover of Apple’s Maiden, North Carolina data centre solar array–we can expect the Reno array to look something similar to this: