In 1980, Natural Bridges National Monument launched the largest solar power plant in the world, and it’s still going.
“The factors influencing this decision included NBNM’s remoteness from the public utility grid, its abundance of sunshine, the size and diversity of its electric loads, and its accessibility to the visiting public,” says a Natural Bridges brochure from the 1980s. “After its dedication in June 1980, visitors were able to view the largest PV power system in the world.”
“This power system is providing information important to the successful operation of future systems: namely, data leading to improved models for system sizing and design as well as reliability, maintenance and performance data on critical PV system components,” wrote Lincoln Lab’s F. John Solman in. “The park is visited by over 80,000 people per year and thus offers an excellent opportunity to educate the public on renewable energy sources and energy usage.
The submarine batteries are long gone, replaced by more modern “wet cell” batteries that soak up excess power from the panels during the day to use at night. “By noon the next day they’re recharged,” said Davis.
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