Yes it's a mill:

https://www.evraz.com/en/company/assets/evraz-pueblo/

 Steel products made on-site, there are others as well:

https://www.evraz.com/en/products/steel/


 The array is about 751,000 panels.  More info here:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightsource-bp-launches-bighorn-sola...

https://www.lightsourcebp.com/us/projects/bighorn-solar/


 Your assessment was the initial problem.  People just can't imagine solar working that efficiently, but today it can.  Plenty of people, none that work in energy, told me that solar would never power the mill.  Admittedly the array is huge, but it also has room for more.  The mill company put forth continual power assurance, not intermittent peak demand request.  So yes, this array is designed to power, reliably, the mill operations.
 
 At this time it's tests show 90-95% output so it can be safe to say solar can not fully power this mill, it needs 5-10% additional.  After the winter they expect 100% but we will see.  The primary reason I got involved was due to past solar fraud.

 I won't have full numbers until June of next year but will gladly go over them with you step by step and you can check the math yourself.

Wonder what all the rules/regulations/restrictions,
are in force for,
the lithium mines in the United States ?

Perhaps someone who claims they know
EVERYTHING, about everything.
Or says they know someone that knows,
everything about everything,
could inform us ?

Of course the US cannot control the Lithium mines in other countries,
   Same as controlling Pollution in China.
(The US can JUST PAY China to, POLLUTE More)

As long as  that …, ‘something’,
    is NOT in Their, backyard !
What ever is done is OK !

But mining/using, Coal,
pumping/using, oil,
is Bad.
When it is done in North America.

Especially when the equivalent of 40 cell phones,
can power a Elect Car for 250/300 miles,
         using FREE ‘elect power’,
which NO, Coal/Oil was used in the making of !

Eegore wrote on 11/02/21 at 06:32:19:


I’ve been to plenty of steel mills which is why I’m a little surprised. But a couple of questions. Do they have an on-site energy storage system?  If so, what kind? I believe the article said they can get 90% of their energy usage from these panels, but these panels clearly don’t provide power for 90% of the operational hours so what are they doing to make up the difference especially when that difference could be 4 to 5 days in a row of adverse weather conditions?

I’ve been to plenty of steel mills which is why I’m a little surprised. But a couple of questions. Do they have an on-site energy storage system?  If so, what kind? I believe the article said they can get 90% of their energy usage from these panels, but these panels clearly don’t provide power for 90% of the operational hours so what are they doing to make up the difference especially when that difference could be 4 to 5 days in a row of adverse weather conditions?

 So why I got involved was because in the past in CO solar companies have essentially made promises to provide X-amount of energy into the "grid" and failed.  But the money / tax credits used didn't have to be paid back for that failure and this created more fraud.  Solar could be placed with little accountability to provide.

 This super-array is essentially the same thing, but with much more accountability.  The energy created is routed to a nearby coal fired powerplant that is going to shut down coal operations in 20 years.  So the 240 megawatts or so of generated power from the Array will end up in the grid by using the older power plant infrastructure.

 This creates a fixed-rate energy plan for the Mill, and will give jobs, hopefully, to people that would otherwise be let go from the older power plant as it closed coal operations.  Since the Array can't absolutely secure 100% of the Mill's power requirements, I would say this is more of an energy offset by definition than a true independent solar setup.

 Traditional power is the remaining 10%, and from what I know, backup power.  Otherwise the input to the Mill has to come from the Array.

"So the mill is not powered by the solar array. Theoretically it could be and perhaps for days at a time, but using the phrase this mill is powered by solar panels is not really correct."

 It is not directly powered on an "isolated grid", but it is powered by the solar array.  The panels produce power and it has to go somewhere.  The energy production of the solar panels meets 90-95% of the Mill's power requirements, and is the recipient of that power.  However storage is off-site, at the power plant, so no this isn't a closed-solar power system.  I'm not sure how you arrive at "theoretically" since the panels are providing measurable power.

If we are going to split-hairs I feel it is incorrect to say the Mill is "not powered" by the solar array.  The power is routed into the current lines or grid.  Solar energy is produced at a rate that meets, consistently, 90-95% of the Mill's power needs.  Not sometimes, all the time, which is a substantial part of this deal.


 I think it is proof that a single mill can run off solar, but pro-alternative energy groups will overplay what is out here.  Taking the size of the array, which is huge, and then adding in enough to cover the remaining 10% loss is feasible, and might even be done, but they had a year so limits were put into place.  To me it's amazing this type of energy production went up in only 13 months.

 One major thing to think about though is the acreage.  Solar can do the job, but the space needed is astronomical.  With the coal plant running down in 20 years, the area needs to come up with alternatives and I think a mix of solar and wind will happen, but only because there is physical space to do so.  From what I understand after this 20 year fixed power rate is over they would like to place direct lines and isolate the power system to the Mill.

If there's one thing solar is perfect for... it's air-conditioning.
Demand is up when the sun is up.
And what's the deal with whether or not it can fully replace conventional power generation?
If it can reduce usage 70 or 80%,... great.
Someday,.. with investment in "infrastructure" some combination of solar, wind, and hydro may make us 100% independent.... if not, what's so bad about 50%.. 60% 80%?...
Poo Pooing the whole thing is stupid.

Serowbot wrote on 11/02/21 at 16:13:34:


Why? Because of people like you.
You thought an electric car battery was equal to 40 cell phones. So when some little 17 child abused kid like Greta tells you solar and wind can replace fossil fuels if Republicans would just get out of the way, you believe her because you can’t think for yourself.
That’s why.

"Never said it was, YOU."

 Then I was wrong.



"And a nop, again.

Why do you believe so many things,
are about ,YOU."


 You have called me a liar multiple times.  Not the exact word "liar" but have indicated I am not being truthful multiple times.  Even on this subject matter where you claimed I wasn't addressing solar industry fraud.