RWE Renewables and Constellation to develop solar facility in Texas

British renewable energy company RWE Renewables has partnered with Constellation, a subsidiary of US-based energy firm Exelon, to develop two energy assets in Texas.

The companies will develop the 200MW Big Star solar project, together with a battery storage system with 80MW/120MWh of capacity, in Bastrop County.

Constellation has signed an agreement to acquire power and project-specific renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to 140MW of Big Star’s total capacity.

Clean energy generated by the solar project will be supplied to PepsiCo, McCormick and Company and Best Buy Co, as well as the KTVT and KTXA TV stations owned by ViacomCBS.

These beneficiaries will use the energy to power their Texas operations as part of a retail electric supply contract with Constellation.

RWE Renewables Wind Onshore and Photovoltaic CEO Silvia Ortín said: “As one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, we are committed to contributing to the energy transition and helping power the US economy.

“Our Big Star solar facility is well-placed to provide Constellation and its major corporation partners with a supply of green energy for their operations.”

Constellation said that the ten-year agreements with its customers are due to begin next year.

The solar power purchased by the commercial customers is estimated to offset more than 257,000t of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Constellation CEO Jim McHugh said: “This deal demonstrates the collective positive impact made possible by customers who share an authentic commitment to addressing climate change and reducing their respective carbon footprints.

“We take pride in providing a clean energy solution that helps leading companies such as these take proactive steps to meeting their environmental goals through renewable supply.”

The Big Star solar project is expected to begin commercial operations in the second quarter of next year.

Last month, RWE Renewables partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems and Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg to develop technologies for floating solar power plants.