From mines to megawatts: The promise of 'conflict-free Big Solar'

clock •

Millions of acres of degraded terrain could hold 100 times the current US solar capacity - and avert the environmental tradeoffs of blockbuster solar projects

Arizona startup Green Energy Storage wants to transform an abandoned open-pit copper mine 45 miles south of Phoenix into a large-scale solar power and pumped-hydro storage facility. Although still in...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Solar

Island Green Power secures approval for giant 500MW Green Hill solar and storage project
Solar

Island Green Power secures approval for giant 500MW Green Hill solar and storage project

When complete Northamptonshire solar farm is expected to produce enough electricity to power 200,000 homes

Amber Rolt
clock 09 October 2026 • 2 min read
Hertfordshire Leisure Centre slashes energy bills over 60 per cent with new solar storage system
Solar

Hertfordshire Leisure Centre slashes energy bills over 60 per cent with new solar storage system

New 130kWp DC‑optimised solar-plus-storage system forecasted to save the centre around £19,000 a year

Amber Rolt
clock 07 October 2026 • 2 min read
A permanent discount: Why solar and batteries deserve a frontline role in tackling fuel poverty
Solar

A permanent discount: Why solar and batteries deserve a frontline role in tackling fuel poverty

The government should act to lower the upfront cost of clean technologies in order to unlock immediate savings for vulnerable households - and get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster - writes Jenn Humphries from the Centre for Net Zero

Jenn Humphries, Centre for Net Zero
clock 05 October 2026 • 4 min read