Technology infrastructure company Switch and asset management firm Capital Dynamics announced today the groundbreaking in Nevada on 3 phases of Gigawatt 1, one of the largest solar and battery storage projects in the technology industry. According to the companies, today’s announcement continues Switch Founder and CEO Rob Roy’s Gigawatt Nevada solar energy and battery vision.

The new phases started today will soon bring Gigawatt 1 to generation of a total of 555 MW of solar power and create 800 MW hours of battery storage.

Gigawatt 1 will use thousands of solar panels made by First Solar, an American company and battery storage utilizing Tesla Megapack which is manufactured at Tesla’s Nevada-based Gigafactory.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said:

“In the midst of this unprecedented moment in our state’s history, Switch and its partners are investing $1.3 billion, creating over a thousand new jobs and accelerating Nevada’s leadership in the world’s renewable energy economy. Projects like this are exactly what the Legislature had in mind when it passed and I signed SB547 to expand investment and jobs in Nevada.”

Today’s groundbreakings include projects in Nevada’s Clark and Storey counties. The Storey County location will be the largest behind-the-meter solar project in the world producing 127MW and will include a 240 MW hour battery storage system. Behind-the-meter projects generate power off the public grid, placing no burden on legacy public utility production.

Adam Kramer, Switch EVP of Strategy, said:

“With today’s announcement Rob Roy’s Gigawatt Nevada now has four solar with battery storage projects in the state creating nearly 1 gigawatt of energy solutions. This project also ensures Switch’s power costs will remain in the 5 cent a KWh range and Switch clients will continue to enjoy low-cost, 100% renewable power for decades to come.”

Benoit Allehaut, Managing Director on Capital Dynamics’ Clean Energy Infrastructure team, said:

“The Capital Dynamics Clean Energy Infrastructure team is delighted to work closely with Switch who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership as a technology company in sustainability both in Nevada and nationwide. We are also pleased to have collaborated with Tesla to install Megapack energy storage systems on four hybrid solar and storage projects in California and Nevada. This selection was the result of a comprehensive due diligence process. We believe that industry leadership is achieved through scale and innovation and are pleased with the tremendous progress we have made in combined solar and storage plants thanks to Switch and Tesla.”

Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses is the integrator of Gigawatt 1. Mark Noyes President and CEO of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, said:

“We are pleased to play a significant role in this groundbreaking initiative. The innovative partnership between all parties involved will continue to drive the sustainability agenda for Switch and the State of Nevada.”

Capital Dynamics affiliate Arevon will lead the project’s energy shaping, development, construction, asset management and operations.