Article

A datacenter at Los Angeles Airport could theoretically be powered by 1 million solar panels and a 600 MWh battery, supplying a steady 26 MW load. However, if solar output decreases by 25%, grid support is necessary after 54 hours.

Scaling the system increases costs; the solar and battery setup totals $395 million versus $50 million for a natural gas turbine plant, which also has lower operational costs over 30 years. Current favorable conditions for solar investments are due to federal tax credits and state Renewable Portfolio Standards. A more equitable policy could further diminish the viability of solar and battery solutions.