Renewable energy is set to make up a bigger slice of the world’s electricity mix. Now, one desert state is taking solar power development to the next level. In places where the sun beats down hard and temperatures soar, solar energy is often the go-to for generating enough electricity to power a home for a day or more. In these regions, wind technologies usually work alongside solar to boost the energy supply. Solar power has rapidly become the cheapest way to generate new electricity in many places around the world.
Present and future of solar panels
The International Energy Agency points out that solar panels now cost less than fossil fuels in sunny and desert regions like the American Southwest. States like Nevada, which enjoys more than 300 days of sun per year and has one or more deserts, are uniquely positioned to take advantage of that shift, especially as energy demands increase and the pressure to decarbonize intensifies.
At the same time, battery storage is becoming a key part of the clean energy puzzle. As of 2023, the U.S. now has over 10 gigawatts of battery capacity in operation — almost three times what it had just two years ago. These batteries allow utilities to store extra solar energy generated during the day and release it when demand peaks in the evening. Projects like this aren’t just solar farms — they’re complete energy systems built to deliver clean, reliable power long after the sun sets.
Solar power in the desert
About half an hour northeast of Las Vegas, a large-scale solar and battery project is now helping meet Nevada’s electricity demand in a new way. Known as Gemini, the site covers less than 5,000 acres in the Mojave Desert and combines 690 megawatts of solar power with a 380-megawatt battery system designed to store energy for use after sunset.
Gemini was developed by Primergy on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Clark County. It’s now considered the largest co-located solar and battery storage project currently operating in the U.S., and it’s capable of supplying roughly 10% of Nevada’s peak energy needs.
The battery storage system plays a key role. It can hold up to 1,400 megawatt-hours of electricity, which allows the project to send power to the grid even when the sun isn’t shining — a growing priority for states trying to move away from fossil fuels without losing reliability
Generating energy and new jobs
During construction, Gemini supported around 1,300 jobs, most of them union or prevailing wage positions, and contributed an estimated $463 million to Nevada’s economy through local hiring and sourcing. Power from the site now feeds into the Las Vegas grid and surrounding areas. Beyond helping reduce emissions, the project is expected to serve as a model for how solar and storage can work together at scale.
As more states look to strengthen their energy resilience, projects like Gemini highlight what’s possible when technology, policy, and geography align. Nevada isn’t just installing solar panels — it’s setting a precedent for how to rethink power infrastructure in the age of climate urgency. With extreme heatwaves and grid instability becoming more common, having a reliable, local, and renewable source of energy in the desert is becoming more needed.
A role model for other states
Looking ahead, Gemini might just be the first of many. The model it provides — pairing high-capacity solar with scalable battery storage — could influence how other sun-rich states (also with deserts) like Arizona, Texas, and California approach their own energy transitions. For now, Nevada is showing the rest of the country what a bold step toward the future can look like when the sun shines bright and the vision is clear.
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