Apple building solar farm to power its Reno, Nev., data center

Apple says it's developing a solar panel farm for its Reno, Nev., data center using a magnifying system to increase solar power output as much as seven-fold.

The facility, to be built with Nevada utility NV Energy as a partner, will increase the intensity of sunlight falling onto each panel by using magnifying lenses, Slash Gear reported Tuesday.

The goal is production of 20 megawatts of energy, enough to power the data center with excess capacity to be fed into the general electricity grid, Apple said.

"This project will not only supply renewable energy for our data center but also provide clean energy to the local power grid, through a first-of-its-kind partnership with NV Energy," Apple said in a statement. "When completed, the 137-acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy, equivalent to taking 6,400 passenger vehicles off the road per year."

Apple will finance the installation of the farm of panels, giving NV Energy the option to purchase some of the output direct or even buy the whole facility.

Apple has similar solar farms providing energy at two of its North Carolina facilities.