Tesla Rooftop Solar Projects Proceeding at Reno and Austin Gigafactories
Tesla Inc. has completed the addition of another 1 MW of solar capacity at its giant Reno, Nevada gigafactory, part of an ongoing work to dramatically expand both the footprint and output of clean energy resources there.
A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that construction on an additional megawatt (1,000 kW) of rooftop is complete, although the project is not commissioned yet.
This work follows numerous rooftop solar installations previously at the Reno gigafactory, known as Gigafactory Nevada, although the total so far pales to what Elon Musk’s company promised several years ago. Original projections totaled 70 MW in future solar capacity, but the installed solar so far is less than a tenth of that, according to reports.
The gigafactories are putting out vast amounts of battery storage equipment and integrative technologies for utility-scale projects, microgrids and electric vehicles. Production output of Powerwall battery storage began nearly a decade ago.
Tesla also is reported to have two other solar arrays, totaling 1.9 MW each, under construction at the company’s gigafactory project in Austin, Texas, according to the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly update. This is where Musk and the leadership team have moved the company's global headquarters from the former Palo Alto, California, center of activity.
Tesla also is working on another 1-MW part of the solar installation at the Austin HQ. All of these Austin projects are under construction but less than 50 percent complete, according to reports.
The electric vehicle, battery storage and software technology firm hopes to finished several of these by the end of 2024. Tesla’s Megapack battery storage technology is being utilized in numerous microgrid and off-grid power projects, including end-use customers such as PepsiCo and Pacific Gas & Electric.