As more and more people are beginning to understand just how important renewable energy is for posterity and progress, various innovations in the industry are being introduced every year.
However, there are some that are simply made a cut above the rest, and that’s what we’re going to look at today. Specifically, we’ll be looking at 6 of the most awe-inspiring solar structures in the world. Admittedly, while there are existing modern solar-powered homes that have been given credit and praise, you’ll soon see just how amazing the ones on the list are. Let’s get started!
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Spaceship HQ
From its inception, Apple has been leading innovations in the world of modern technology. So it’s unsurprising that it has made the move to invest in a 100% solar powered-complex for its base of operations. That’s none other than Spaceship Headquarters in Cupertino, California. Wondering why it’s not called Apple HQ? Well, let’s just say that the solar panels that generate electricity for the entire area are meticulously shaped like a spaceship from afar! The campus boasts of thousands of panels that generate about 16 megawatts of power.
While the Spaceship HQ is an architectural marvel in itself, this is not really the first and only time Steve Jobs’ beloved company tapped into green energy. Since 2018, Apple has launched over 25 renewable energy projects across the globe! This is completely admirable, but I can imagine just how expensive that could be for their bottom line.
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Solar Veil HQ
Moving on to Boston, one of the oldest American companies in existence aka General Electric or GE has also caved in to the RE trend, and as such, they planned to create a dramatic solar veil on top of their supposed new Headquarters in Fort Point Channel. It was slated to be completed in 2018 and the design was absolutely stunning! The problem is, GE gave up on that project and settled for a more modest base, leaving the solar veil an awe-inspiring structure that never came to fruition.
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The Gigafactory
If we’re going to talk about sustainable companies, of course, the first mega-company that would come to mind is Tesla. Tesla plans to hold the record for having the world’s largest building, in terms of physical area. But what makes it even better is that it would run on solar energy! This Gigafactory in Nevada prides itself as a net-zero energy building. Aside from covering the entire 126-acre factory roofs with thousands of solar panels. Plus, there are more PV cells on top of nearby hillsides.Tesla broke ground on this massive project 4 years ago and hopefully, the Gigafactory will get to see the light of day.
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Sol Invictus Tower
Outside the US, there are also some pretty good solar buildings being developed. One of which is the Sol Invictus Tower that is aiming for the sky! The Sol Invictus is a 60-story residential building that is set to be constructed in Melbourne, Australia. As the name suggests, the whole apartment skyscraper will be powered by solar energy. The architects plan to do this by wrapping solar panels all around the building. In addition to that, roof-mounted wind turbines will also be placed as the cherry on top to ensure that the entire area is off-grid!
Unfortunately, COVID-19 affected the construction of the Sol Invictus. But hopefully, things will turn for the better by next year.
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Planta Solar
We’re now moving on from solar buildings to solar farms. To start off, we have Spain’s pride, the Planta Solar. The complex is made out of 2 solar power plants that can produce up to 20 megawatts of solar power through the use of heliostats. Before 2014, it was named the most powerful solar tower in the world. This is special since it was first constructed in 2009 and can produce enough energy to power over 10,000 homes!
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Disney Solar Farm
Going back to America, of course, we can’t miss the Disney Solar Farm in California. The solar farm is located at a total of 270 acres of land which is about equivalent to 2 Disneyland facilities! And in true House of Mouse fashion, the over half a million panels were shaped to look like the iconic Mickey Mouse logo. However, despite the enormity of the facility, the best it can do is power up about 25% of the Walt Disney World Resort. Not bad, right?
Conclusion
Now you know that big empires and companies can afford to make the switch to renewable energy (or at least plan to do so), there’s no reason for you not to do so in your homes. As seen on the list, you have 2 major choices for generating solar power. One is by means of mounting solar panels and the other is through solar farming. Don’t worry, you don’t need massive amounts of land like Disney to reap the benefits of solar farming or community solar in MA or in any place available. All you need is a subscription and you’re good to go!
Investing in renewable energy is always a good decision for every person on this planet. Big companies have done so and so should you.
