Construction commences on Ables Springs solar + storage, Texas

Construction work on the Ables Springs solar + storage has officially commenced in Kaufman County, Texas. Enel North America broke ground on the project this week that will bring together a 186 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a 115 MW / 169 MWh battery energy storage system. What’s more, this project represents the solar company’s 17th renewables project in Texas. It has installed 3.8 GW of wind and solar plus over 1 GW of grid-scale storage. The state is the largest consumer of energy by a mile compared to the rest and demand for clean energy is surging higher than ever.

Project Scope

Ables Springs is expected to generate 320 GWh of clean energy each year. This is enough to supply clean power to over 30,000 households. Over its lifetime, the project is expected to generate around $60 million in tax revenue for schools and public services. It’s expected to come online in late 2024. Sustainability principles will be integrated throughout the project, both at the site and in the community. They will be done through resource efficiency measures and innovative tools. Moreover, Enel will contribute additional funding to emergency responders and STEM education programs.

The Project Team

The project team at Ables Springs involves Enel and Red River Renewable Energy LLC, a joint venture between SunChase Power LLC and Eolian LP. “When ERCOT conditions tightened this winter, Enel’s solar and storage plants provided crucial generation and quick-response batteries that helped keep the lights and heat on,” said Stephen Pike, head of Enel Green Power North America. Additionally, the company expects to bring about nearly 200 construction jobs and several permanent, full-time operations jobs at Ables Springs.

Other Enel North America projects in Texas

Located in the same county, Enel also runs operations at the Lily Solar + Storage plant. This was the company’s first facility to integrate utility-scale renewables and storage. The Lily solar project was also initiated and developed by Red River Renewable Energy, LLC. Just a month ago, Enel North America also started operations on the Fence Post solar + storage project in Texas. The 297 MW project is supported by all-terrain vehicle manufacturer Polaris. Together, Polaris entered a 12-year, 22-MW virtual power purchase agreement which matches approximately 40% of the company’s U.S. electrical use.

This project is estimated to provide $35.6 million in local tax revenue that can be used to fund schools, road and bridge repairs, or other community infrastructure that benefits the Navarro County community. “Polaris shares Enel’s mission to bring more clean energy onto the grid. Moreover, across all sectors, leaders like Polaris are stepping up to secure the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy. Enel offers the clean and flexible solutions businesses need to advance their sustainability goals,” said Stephen Pike, head of Enel North America’s renewable energy production business, Enel Green Power North America.