MGM Resorts International and NRG Energy have completed the installation of what they call the world’s largest rooftop solar array on a convention center. Covering approximately 20 acres (8 hectares) atop the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, the 6.4-megawatt (MW dc) photovoltaic array will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 1,000 U.S. homes annually.
MGM and NRG also plan to build an additional 2-MW dc photovoltaic array atop a future expansion of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center scheduled to begin construction later this year.
Once completed, the combined solar installation is expected to provide pricing stability and reduce energy draw from the southern Nevada grid during the hottest time of the day. The project is estimated to displace approximately 6,300 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking more than 1,300 cars off the road.