As SpaceX’s operations at its Texas launch center grow, so too do the company’s power needs, as depicted in new plans to increase the site’s solar farm.
SpaceX is expanding the on-site solar farm powering operations in Boca Chica, Texas by about 1.7 acres, according to documents seen by CNBC from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
The expansion represents a roughly 30 percent increase for a total solar land space of about 7.1 acres.
SpaceX has already begun the process of clearing and leveling the site for construction.
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According to the documents, the construction process is expected to take place over the course of two years.
The new addition is also expected to add 750 kilowatts of power for 1.6 MWs of energy total, along with an additional battery system to offer as many as 8 MW-hours of storage.
The documents also note that SpaceX uses solar panels manufactured in China from Trina Solar, rather than solar from fellow Elon Musk-run company Tesla.
Still, the site does use Tesla’s PowerPack batteries for energy storage at the site.
SpaceX became the official largest private employer in Brownsville, Texas last month,, with around $430 million in a new investment going to its Starbase facility in the town.
