Gemini Solar + Storage Project Achieves Commercial Operation to Generate 690 MW of Power for Las Vegas Area
July 22, 2024
Primergy Solar and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announced that the Gemini solar + storage project in Clark County, Nevada, is completely operational and will deliver clean, affordable power to communities in Las Vegas and beyond.
The project’s 1.8 million solar panels are capable of generating up to 690 MW, powering approximately 10% of Nevada’s peak power demand. The solar arrays are co-located with 380 MW of 4-hour battery storage to provide 1,400 MWh of clean, reliable power to Nevadans after sunset.
The project’s DC-coupled storage configuration enables the battery energy storage system (BESS) to charge directly from the solar panels, resulting in increased efficiency and maximizing the capture and storage of solar energy directly on-site.
Primergy left vegetation in place, installed solar panels that followed the ground’s natural contours, and reduced the project’s land footprint by over 20% through thoughtful design to minimize environmental impacts. The project also created approximately 1,300 union and prevailing wage jobs and contributed approximately $463 million to Nevada’s economy.
“Gemini creates a blueprint for holistic and innovative clean energy development at mega scale, and we are proud to have brought this milestone project to life and to have delivered so many positive impacts across job creation, environmental stewardship, and local community engagement,” said David Scaysbrook, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quinbrook.
Primergy and Quinbrook closed on $1.9 billion in debt and tax equity financing for construction and development during the project’s progress.
In October 2022, APG, the pension asset manager in the Netherlands, acquired 49% equity ownership in Gemini on behalf of its pension fund client, ABP. The Quinbrook Valley of Fire Fund acquired the remaining 51% of the project, with Blackstone Strategic Partners and Ares Management Infrastructure Secondaries funds as lead investors in April 2024.
