Solar power companies believe that they can increase the United States’ solar power capacity by 60% simply by using landfills, a move which would not only increase power but use land that is going to waste.
Nexamp believe that if the US began using landfills, areas that are used or were used to bury garbage, then a greener future would be available to us all, increasing the solar power output of the nation by 63 gigawatts.
Currently, landfills, even if they are no longer used, do not have any buildings upon them due to their instability and the danger from chemical and biological contamination for those who would inhabit the land. By using the land for solar panels, the land then has a positive use and can help fight the climate crisis by providing green energy.
The company has currently established its first solar farm on the Solar Star Urbana Landfill and is utilising 40 acres. The 14,000 solar panels on the site generate 5.2 megawatts of clean energy for low and middle-income residents living near the landfill.
Naxamp is not the only firm taking up this idea. IKON Environmental Energy is building a 70- megawatt solar farm in the state of Texas upon a ‘capped’ (or covered) landfill which will in time provide power to 12,000 homes. The landfill will also have an electric vehicle charging point, a community garden, and a compost generator.
Similarly, a build is being constructed in Annapolis, Maryland, over 80 acres.
Despite technical difficulties, and strict health and safety restrictions, the firms have been attracted by the low cost of setting up the solar panel systems on landfills as they do not have to bid for expensive land on which to build their projects, and local communities are more than happy to receive subsidised energy and have the landfill site used for more productive means.
Given that there are 10,000 covered landfills in the US the capacity for rolling the solar panels out nationwide should not be underestimated.
Source: live56today.com
