Construction has begun on the $394 million SunRoper Solar project in Wharton County, Texas, with OCI Energy, Arava Power and project partners holding a groundbreaking ceremony on September 1, 2026.
The 347 MWdc utility-scale solar project is located about 60 miles southwest of downtown Houston and is expected to begin operations in December 2027. The project will sell its electricity to an undisclosed Fortune 100 company under a long-term power purchase agreement.
The groundbreaking marks the transition from project development and financing into construction. OCI Energy and Arava Power are jointly developing SunRoper, while WHC is serving as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. ING provided the project’s construction financing.
SunRoper project moves into construction
The September 1 ceremony brought together representatives from OCI Energy, Arava Power, ING, WHC and project landowners for a ceremonial shovel turn marking the start of construction.
OCI Energy and Arava Power reached financial close on SunRoper’s construction financing in February 2026. At that time, the developers said the project represented an expected total investment of approximately $394 million.
The financing package arranged by ING Capital included a construction-to-term loan, a tax equity bridge loan and letters of credit. BHI and Bank Hapoalim also provided financing support and letters of credit.
The project also has a 20-year power purchase agreement with a Fortune 100 company. The identity of the electricity buyer has not been disclosed by the developers.
347 MWdc facility will serve the ERCOT market
Once completed, SunRoper will add 347 MWdc of solar generation to the Texas electricity system.
The project sits southwest of Houston, near one of the largest electricity-demand centers in the United States. The developers expect SunRoper to add new generation capacity to the ERCOT market when the facility begins operating.
The project’s location puts it near a major and growing electricity-demand center in the Houston region. However, SunRoper’s 347 MWdc nameplate capacity does not mean the facility will continuously produce 347 MW of electricity. Solar output changes throughout the day and depends on available sunlight.
The developers expect SunRoper to begin commercial operations in December 2027. Earlier financing documents targeted commercial operation in the third quarter of 2027, but the September 1 groundbreaking announcement now specifies December 2027 as the expected start date.
OCI Energy and Arava Power lead development
SunRoper is being developed through a joint venture between OCI Energy and Arava Power.
For Arava Power, the Texas project represents part of its expansion into the U.S. market. The Israeli company entered the U.S. market with utility-scale renewable energy projects and has identified the country as a major area for future growth.
OCI Energy, meanwhile, has developed utility-scale solar and battery storage projects in the United States since its establishment in 2012.
The two companies’ partnership combines OCI Energy’s U.S. development presence with Arava Power’s experience in utility-scale solar development.
WHC to construct the solar facility
WHC will serve as the EPC contractor responsible for delivering the SunRoper facility.
Black & Veatch is serving as technical adviser to the project. Foley & Lardner represented the SunRoper joint venture during the financing, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom represented ING.
The construction team now moves from financial close and project preparation into physical construction, with completion targeted for 2027.
SunRoper adds another large solar project to Texas
SunRoper’s construction comes as Texas continues to add large-scale generation to its electricity system.
The project’s significance is not simply its nameplate capacity. Its 20-year corporate power purchase agreement provides a contracted buyer for the electricity, while its location near Houston places the project close to a major electricity-demand center.
Once operational, SunRoper is expected to provide new solar generation to the ERCOT market and supply electricity under its long-term agreement with the Fortune 100 buyer.
A growing solar manufacturing base near Houston
SunRoper’s construction comes as the Greater Houston region expands its role in the U.S. solar industry beyond electricity generation. SEG Solar is developing a new 4.6 GW annual-capacity solar module manufacturing facility in the region, adding manufacturing capacity alongside the utility-scale generation that SunRoper will provide. The planned factory and warehouse will cover about 1.15 million square feet. SEG expects to finish construction in March 2027 and begin commercial production in May 2027. Once the facility reaches full operation, SEG expects it to increase its planned U.S. module manufacturing capacity to 10.6 GW annually.
SunRoper Solar Project — Factsheet
- Project: SunRoper Solar
- Location: Wharton County, Texas
- Location relative to Houston: Approximately 60 miles southwest of downtown Houston
- Capacity: 347 MWdc
- Expected investment: Approximately $394 million
- Developers: OCI Energy and Arava Power
- EPC contractor: WHC
- Financing: ING Capital, with support from BHI and Bank Hapoalim
- Technical adviser: Black & Veatch
- Power buyer: Undisclosed Fortune 100 company
- Power purchase agreement: 20 years
- Construction milestone: Groundbreaking on September 1, 2026
- Expected operations: December 2027
- Grid market: ERCOT
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