OCI Energy and Arava Power break ground on 347 MWdc Texas solar project

Construction has started on a large solar farm in Wharton County, Texas, about 60 miles southwest of Houston. The project, called SunRoper Solar, is being built by OCI Energy and Arava Power, with WHC Energy Services as the construction contractor. It's a big installation, 347 megawatts, with the power already committed to a large corporation under a 20-year contract. The project is expected to start supplying electricity in December 2027.

This is a large-scale, utility-type solar farm, not something tied to individual homes, so it won't offer rebates or upgrades homeowners can apply for directly. But it's part of a broader wave of solar construction in Texas. OCI Energy and Arava Power have now teamed up on three such projects in the state, and industry estimates cited in the news suggest Texas could see 39 gigawatts of new solar installations over the next five years. That kind of growth can affect the broader electric grid, including how much power is available and how prices behave over time, though the direct effects on any single household's bill aren't detailed here.

Financing for the project closed in February, arranged by ING Capital with support from BHI and Bank of Hapoalim, and included a mix of construction loans, tax equity financing, and credit backing. Arava Power now has more than 2 gigawatts of solar capacity operating or in development across Israel and North America, while OCI Energy says it's aiming for up to 10 gigawatts under development by 2028.