X-Elio’s Google contract: Brookfield-backed renewable energy company X-ELIO has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with tech giant Google offtaking the entire output from its Texas-located 128 MW Bell Solar PV Plant. Google will use all the power generated to support its operations in Texas. With X-ELIO feeding power into a shared network, it plans to enable direct delivery of power to Google under a physical PPA. The Bell Solar Plant also includes a 100 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to ensure 24x7 power supply. This contract, says X-ELIO, will strengthen its US presence.
$20 million govt. funding for RE: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 6 projects to award $11.6 million to improve the siting of large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), these proceeds will help improve planning, siting, and permitting for such facilities. Selected projects are located in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Additionally, the DOE has also launched an $8.2 million prize to advance agrivoltaics. This will specifically support projects that co-locate solar energy production and cattle grazing. The Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize will develop and deploy solar cattle grazing by building pilot sites and sharing information on best practices, costs, and energy and agricultural outcomes. Applications for phase 1 of the prize will be accepted till March 6, 2025, according to the call. A total of up to 14 winners can win $50,000 each. The remaining amount is to be divided between subsequent phases with $225,000 each for up to 7 winners in phase 2A and phase 2B each, and up to 7 winners can win $100,000 each under phase 3.
MGM Resorts signs 25-year solar PPA: US-based global entertainment company MGM Resorts International has entered a new solar PPA with Escape Solar LLC for its 115 MW PV project with 100 MW/400 MWh BESS. Located in Lincoln County, Nevada, the project is scheduled to start commercial operations in early 2026. MGM states it will more than double its access to clean solar electricity, targeting to procure 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030. MGM currently uses solar power for 90% of the total daytime needs at 11 of its Las Vegas Strip properties. The 25-year Escape Solar contract will extend production to cover 100% of these properties’ total daytime needs, it added. Additionally, the storage capacity will expand the renewable energy supply to these properties into the late-afternoon and early evening hours.
$66 million for community solar: A division of UK-based Aggreko, Aggreko Energy Transition Solution (ETS) has closed a $66 million term loan financing for an 88.5 MW DC diversified portfolio of community solar and commercial & industrial (C&I) solar assets. The portfolio is located across New York, Texas, and California. The financing provides distribution to ETS for its acquisition and construction costs and is structured as a delayed-draw term loan to align with project completion milestones, stated Aggreko. KeyBanc Capital Markets led the transaction and served as the administrative agent.
$13 million Series B funding: French advanced energy management solutions provider Elum Energy has raised $13 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Energize Capital with its existing investors Alter Equity and Cota Capital. It will use the proceeds to support its plans to address the global renewables market, including a launch in the US, and conduct product evolution within the energy storage and EV integration businesses. Elum specializes in industrializing the monitoring and control of standard and hybrid solar PV projects, for C&I, microgrids, and utility-scale projects.
AMS buys Collective Solar: US-based distributed solar and storage EPC AMS Renewable Energy has acquired another distributed generation construction firm Collective Solar headquartered in Oswego, New York. It expands AMS’ portfolio, bringing in in-house resources to scale design, engineering, logistics, procurement, and construction services for its developer and independent power producer (IPP) clients. It will also explore other markets within the US. Collective Solar CEO and Founder Vincent Colletti will now serve as the head of Construction for AMS.
Hecate hires Bechtel: North American renewable energy developer Hecate Energy has contracted local EPC group Bechtel to design and construct its 360 MW DC Sunfish Solar 2 facility in Michigan’s Calhoun County. This is part of its 1 GW Sunfish project that’s targeted to be completed in 2026 and power an equivalent of 183,500 Michigan homes. The 360 MW DC facility will have 620,000 bifacial solar panels spread across 1,300 acres. Construction on-site will begin later this year.