The utility solar project in central Texas uses First Solar U.S.-made panels and is one of the top 10 largest solar projects in the country, and largest in Texas, according to EIA data.
Intersect Power, an Oakland, California-based renewable energy developer, recently completed construction of a 415 MWdc (320 MW ac) Texas solar project that stands among the top 10 largest utility-solar generation projects in the United States upon completion, according to the Energy Information Administration’s 860-A monthly project database. The project also dethrones Longroad Energy’s Prospero Solar by 20 MWac as the largest solar generating facility in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
Located in Brown County, Texas, the Radian Solar project reached commercial-scale operations on May 16 and was assembled using First Solar modules manufactured in the U.S. The project is providing enough clean power for more than 114,000 homes.
The project, which began construction during the Covid-19 pandemic, utilized 500 construction workers during the construction phases of the monstrous solar project, part of Intersect’s near term portfolio that totals 2.2 GW of solar projects and 1.4 GWh of collocated storage projects.
The remaining 1.78 GW of the near-term portfolio is expected to become operational in the second half of 2023, the company said.
“Renewable energy is a critical piece of the overall American energy production story. Investing in clean energy is a smart business decision and Texas continues to lead the way in strong investments, development and production,” said Sheldon Kimber, Intersect Power’s CEO. “Texas clean energy production has spurred significant economic development and job creation in the state while bringing energy security and independence to the U.S.”
Other large Texas utility solar projects (ac) include:
Prospero Solar (300 MW, Andrews County) – Longroad Energy
Taygete Solar Project (255 MW, Pecos County) – lightsource bp, 7X Energy
Greasewood Solar (255 MW, Pecos County) – Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Phoebe Solar (250 MW, Winkler County) – Innergex Renewable Energy
Galloway 1 Solar (250 MW, Concho County) – Avantus (fka 8minute)
Misae Solar (240 MW, Childress County) – Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Fighting Jays Solar (227.5 MW, Ector County) – Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Long Draw Solar (225 MW, Borden, TX) – Engie North America
RE Maplewood (222 MW, Pecos County) – Origis Energy
Roadrunner Solar (200 MW, Upton County) – Enel Green Power
Holstein 1 Solar (200 MW, Nolan County) – Duke Energy Renewables
Impact Solar 1 (198.5 MW, Lamar County) – lightsource bp
Intersect Power secured funding for Radian as part of the broader portfolio financing announced in November 2021, from Bank of America and Apple, supported by an innovative offtake structure with Merrill Lynch Commodities. Other funds managed by HPS Investment Partners provided portfolio term debt. Construction debt was provided by MUFG, Santander, Cobank, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Helaba and Nord LB.
Over the last year, Intersect Power also became one of the largest U.S. developers to procure U.S.-made solar modules. In November, it racked up a 4.9 GW order tally for First Solar modules for its development pipeline through 2029. Intersect, which is backed by investors Climate Adaptive Infrastructure, Trilantic and Generate Capital, will receive a combination of First Solar’s Series 6 Plus and Series 7 modules for deployment on the independent power producer’s solar, energy storage and green hydrogen projects starting in 2025.
