ContourGlobal energizes first U.S. solar site | Projects Weekly
It’s RE+ week, and this edition of Projects Weekly is jam packed with news. Starting things off, ContourGlobal has begun operations at the new Black Hollow Sun I (BHS I) site, a 185 MWp solar facility near Severance, Colorado, the company’s first in the United States. Plus, Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in New Jersey totaling just over 1 MWdc; Soluna Holdings has surpassed 1 GW in renewable energy-powered computing facilities with the energizing of two new sites in Texas; Standard Solar has expanded its commercial PPA portfolio with a 13.7 MW solar project for a Maryland-based healthcare system; Encore Renewable Energy has energized its first energy storage system at Middlebury College; Aspen Power has acquired two Illinois solar projects for a total of 13.9 MW generating capacity; RES has signed a contract with Repsol to provide operations and maintenance services for utility-scale solar projects in the United States; Euclid Power has secured a $20 million Series A funding to support renewable energy projects; SolarEdge Technologies and Arch Solar have completed a rooftop solar project at a Wisconsin high school; and Catalyze secured $200 million to support renewable energy growth in the United States.
ContourGlobal’s first U.S. renewable energy facility comes online in Colorado
ContourGlobal has started operations at Black Hollow Sun I (BHS I), a 185 MWp solar photovoltaic facility located near Severance, Colorado. BHS I represents the UK-based company’s first operating renewable plant in the United States and the initial phase of the Black Hollow Sun complex, which will also include BHS II (139 MWp). When fully completed in 2026, the power complex will reach a total capacity of 324 MWp, making it Northern Colorado’s largest solar project and Platte River’s largest contracted solar asset.
Once fully operational, the complex will produce around 608 GWh of renewable energy each year, which will be delivered to Platte River Power Authority, the community-owned utility serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, and Longmont. ContourGlobal is using American-manufactured solar modules supplied by its partner Qcells, which is also providing its integrated EPC solutions for this project.
Cool factor: This milestone marked a highlight of ContourGlobal’s 20th anniversary celebrations, underscoring both its origins in the United States two decades ago and its commitment to becoming a predominantly renewable independent power producer (IPP) also through other relevant investments in the country.
“The start of operations at Black Hollow Sun I is a pivotal moment for ContourGlobal, marking our first U.S. renewable plant to reach operational state, and especially meaningful as we celebrate our 20th anniversary since the company was incorporated in the U.S.,” said Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of ContourGlobal. “This project, together with Black Hollow Sun II targeted for completion by the end of 2026, exemplifies our strategy to deliver clean, reliable power while strengthening our commitment to local communities and partners such as Platte River Power Authority”.
The completion of BHS I adds 185 MWp of new renewable capacity to ContourGlobal’s overall U.S. portfolio, which now totals 2.8 GW of power generation capacity in operation, under construction or in late-stage of development. ContourGlobal’s planned renewable capacity in the United States includes an additional 1 GW of solar PV and 0.3 GW of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects at various stages of maturity, from late development to advanced construction.
Aspen Power closes on community solar project acquisitions in New Jersey
Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in New Jersey from Ecogy Energy. Totaling just over 1 MWdc of solar capacity, the projects, located in Millville (South Jersey) and Ocean Township (Monmouth County), were initially developed by Ecogy Energy and are approaching the start of construction.
“Collaboration is essential to accelerating the clean energy transition, and our partnership with Ecogy Energy demonstrates how working together can deliver results where they matter most,” said Dan Gulick, executive VP of Community Solar for Aspen Power. “Solar is now the most affordable source of new power in America, and even with challenging political headwinds, we are successfully bringing projects online that lower costs for subscribers, generate reliable income for property owners, and support New Jersey’s ambitious clean energy goals. By building on Ecogy’s strong foundation, we are not only helping to decarbonize the grid, but also driving long-term economic and environmental benefits for local communities. At this critical moment for renewable energy, strong partnerships between developers and operators will be the key to sustained growth.”
Cool factor: Together, the projects are expected to produce more than 1.1 million kWh in their first year. The acquisition is part of a series of deals Aspen Power announced spanning four states. The projects are in Atlantic City Electric and Jersey Central Power & Light utility territories and will provide subscribers a discount on prevailing utility rates. By pairing Ecogy Energy’s community-centered development with Aspen Power’s financing and operational expertise, the partners are helping more New Jersey residents access affordable renewable energy and contribute to a cleaner future.
“These projects are a great representation of Ecogy’s continued focus on developing the mid-market commercial and industrial distributed energy resources space,” said Jack Bertuzzi, principal at Ecogy Energy. “It’s great to have a partnership with Aspen Power, who see the value in these distributed generation projects, and the outsized value they bring to the grid and the surrounding communities.”
Soluna surpasses 1 GW of clean computing capacity
Green data center developer Soluna Holdings Inc. has reached a key milestone with 1 GW of clean computing projects in either operation, construction, or development, positioning the company to lead the way in sustainable data center development in the United States. The milestone was reached with the launch of two new Texas-based sites: Project Fei, a solar-powered facility in northern Texas, and Project Gladys, a wind-powered facility in the southeast region of the state.
“Reaching one gigawatt of clean computing projects in our total development pipeline is a transformative moment for Soluna. Getting these projects from development to operational will put us on par with some of the biggest companies in the world when it comes to clean-powered computing capacity, including Amazon, Meta, and Google,” said John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna.
Cool factor: Project Fei is a 100 MW data center co-located with a 240 MW utility-scale solar farm, Soluna’s second solar-based project to date. Developed in partnership with a global leader in energy infrastructure investment, Project Fei will convert underutilized solar energy into clean, high-performance computing power. The project is currently advancing through land acquisition, power contract negotiation, and ERCOT interconnection planning. The project honors Dr. Fei-Fei Li, a pioneering AI researcher, whose work, including the creation of ImageNet, has helped shape the modern era of artificial intelligence and ethical computing.
Project Gladys, a 150 MW facility, will be co-located with a 226 MW wind farm and developed in partnership with a U.S.-based independent power producer (IPP). The project is currently advancing through land acquisition, power contract negotiation, and ERCOT interconnection planning. It is named after Dr. Gladys West, the mathematician whose groundbreaking work in geospatial modeling paved the way for modern GPS technology.
Standard Solar grows commercial PPA portfolio with 13.7 MW solar project in Maryland
Standard Solar has added another commercial power purchase agreement (PPA) to its rapidly growing portfolio. The agreement with a leading Maryland-based healthcare system will enable it to power facilities with renewable energy with no upfront or development costs.
The completed and operational 13.7 MW Costen Solar Farm will supply the healthcare system, one of the largest energy consumers and employers serving Maryland, with electricity under a 20-year PPA with Standard Solar, the project’s owner and operator.
“Healthcare systems are among the most energy-intensive institutions in our communities, and projects like this show how PPAs can help them decarbonize without financial or operational risk,” said Mike Streams, chief development officer at Standard Solar. “By structuring agreements that remove upfront costs and deliver predictable clean energy, we’re enabling healthcare providers and other large energy users to meet sustainability commitments, lower emissions and focus resources where they matter most, on patient care.”
Cool factor: Engineered to deliver approximately 19,700 MWh of electricity in its first year, the project aligns with the system’s mission to reduce its carbon footprint, support its sustainability goals and contribute to Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. Hospitals are known for high energy demands due to their 24/7 operations.
“Partnering on the Costen Solar Farm shows how Standard Solar can deliver clean energy solutions in sectors with the highest energy demands,” said John Finnerty, director of business development at Standard Solar. “This project is a model for other large energy consumers in Maryland, proving that clean power can be delivered efficiently into PJM accounts while advancing sustainability and financial goals. It’s also a testament to the strong collaboration between our team, Choptank Electric Cooperative and PJM.”
Encore Renewable Energy powers up first energy storage system in Vermont
Encore Renewable Energy has energized South Street Storage, a 2 MW / 8 MWh utility-scale battery energy storage system, located next to the South Street Solar project in Middlebury, Vermont. South Street Storage is Encore’s first energy storage project and will provide vital demand mitigation services and cost savings to Green Mountain Power (GMP) and its customers.
“The past few years of intense storms and record heat have demonstrated the importance of a dependable electric grid, and we need more energy storage for that,” said Encore founder and co-CEO Chad Farrell. “Thankfully there are leading utilities like Green Mountain Power, who have long understood the value of locally sited energy storage for keeping our electricity supply clean and affordable.”
Cool factor: The 2MW energy system at South Street adds to GMP’s growing network of stored energy, now over 75 MW, making it Vermont’s largest source of dispatchable power. The lithium-ion battery systems for this project were provided by KORE Power, a leading domestic manufacturer of battery energy storage systems, which also built the units installed by Encore at its Waterbury, Vermont, facility. KORE’s operation’s team will also be coordinating with Encore to monitor the system’s performance.
“The South Street Storage project is a model of well-orchestrated grid modernization that is made possible when a developer, a manufacturer and a utility share the vision of delivering safe, reliable, clean power to customers,” said Jay Bellows, CEO of KORE Power. “Through this coordination the teams from Encore, KORE and Green Mountain Power will deliver affordable power that is there when it is needed.”
Aspen Power acquires 2 Illinois solar projects totaling 13.9 MW
Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in Illinois with a combined capacity of 13.9 MWdc. Located in Grafton and Mattoon, the projects are expected to generate over 19 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the clean energy equivalent to powering 2,770 homes each year.
The projects were acquired from Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI) and are part of a larger portfolio spanning Illinois and New York, which also includes sites nearing final completion.
Illinois has emerged as a strong market for community solar, driven by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which expands access to renewable energy, particularly for low- and moderate-income households. Aspen Power’s acquisition builds on recent momentum in the state, including the company’s recent MIPDSA closing on a 14.1 MW Illinois portfolio and its announced partnership to acquire 20 additional community solar projects totaling up to 19 MW, primarily in Illinois.
Cool factor: The Grafton and Mattoon sites will operate as community solar gardens, delivering clean energy directly to local residents and businesses. Subscribers will receive a discount on their electricity bills, and the projects are expected to support approximately 265 jobs, based on estimates from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
“By supporting the state’s ambitious renewable energy goals, we are helping to decarbonize the grid while delivering lasting economic and environmental benefits to local communities,” said Jorge Vargas, CEO of Aspen Power.
RES signs solar O&M contract with Repsol for 1.5+ GWp in the United States
Independent renewable energy company RES has signed a significant contract with Repsol to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for more than 1.5 GWp of utility-scale solar projects in the United States.
The agreement covers four major solar projects across Texas and New Mexico, including the 825 MWp Pinnington and 620 MWp Outpost projects in Texas, and the 120 MWp Jicarilla I and II projects in New Mexico – two key states for US solar expansion. The deal strengthens RES’ presence in North America and marks another milestone in its strategic partnership with Repsol.
Cool factor: RES will deploy a specialist field team to ensure optimal performance and operational excellence, while also creating new jobs in the region’s clean energy sector.
“This is a major step forward in our U.S. growth strategy and a clear signal of confidence in our O&M solutions,” said Jean-Claude Robert, senior VP of services North America at RES. “We’re proud to build on our long-standing relationship with Repsol and to support the expansion of high-performance solar in the U.S. and beyond.”
Euclid raises $20M to accelerate renewable energy projects
Euclid Power has secured $20 million in Series A funding to support the expansion of the company’s AI-driven workflows to support renewable energy project development. The funding round was led by Venrock, with participation from HSBC Asset Management and existing investors including Spero Ventures, Toba Capital, Designer Fund, and Commonweal Ventures.
With surging energy demand from AI straining the grid and federal regulations slowing renewable deployment needed to meet this demand, Euclid’s platform and services suite helps give renewable energy teams the clarity, speed, and control they need to keep projects moving. Founded in 2021 by energy industry insiders Jacob Sandry, Ryan Guay, and Brian DeMaio, Euclid is already embedded in more than 1,000 solar and storage projects across the United States. This new capital will accelerate Euclid’s AI-enabled workflows, expand its product suite, and strengthen its services team to meet the market’s demand for speed at scale.
“With this round, we’re scaling to meet the urgency of the clean energy transition,” said Jacob Sandry, CEO of Euclid. “Our customers are navigating regulatory friction and market uncertainty every day to supply power that people desperately need. We help them move through that complexity faster, with the precision their projects demand.”
Cool factor: Euclid serves as a single source of information for renewable energy teams, transforming scattered project documentation into actionable intelligence. Its AI engine automatically tags documents, extracts key data points — cost lines, deadlines, risk indicators, and more — and collates them into a single, up-to-date source of project information.
Since its inception, Euclid has onboarded more than 12 GW of solar and storage capacity, and supported over $10 billion in renewable energy investments.
SolarEdge, Arch Solar complete rooftop PV system Wisconsin high school
SolarEdge Technologies and Arch Solar have collaborated on the completion of a rooftop solar project at Nicolet Union High School in Glendale, Wisconsin. Since coming online in fall 2024, the system has been generating clean energy and reducing operational costs for the school while serving as a hands-on educational resource for students.
Designed and installed by Arch Solar, the system spans seven distinct rooftop sections and uses TerraGen racking at 15° and 23° tilts. The design overcame complex challenges, including varying roof heights, shading, and structural limitations. Using SolarEdge Designer, the project team optimized the layout and production while incorporating future scalability into the electrical and inverter infrastructure.
Cool factor: The solar array — featuring 715 high-efficiency modules and three SolarEdge SE100K-US inverters — has produced more than 477 MWh of electricity in its first operational year. The system now powers nearly 19% of the school’s annual energy needs, delivering more than $52,000 in annual utility savings, with a projected lifetime savings of $2.2 million. Additionally, the system offsets hundreds of tons of carbon emissions annually, aligning with the school’s goals for environmental stewardship and financial responsibility.
“This wasn’t just another install; it was a community investment,” said Andrew Holmstrom, business development supervisor at Arch Solar. “Many of our employees live nearby, and my own kids will one day attend Nicolet High School. Knowing that they’ll be learning under the same roof that we’ve helped transform with clean energy makes this incredibly personal. It’s not just about panels, it’s about setting an example for the next generation and showing our community what’s possible when you invest in sustainability.”
The project was part of a broader $80 million campus renovation initiative and was supported by federal and state incentives, including the Inflation Reduction Act and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program. With these incentives, Nicolet cut its anticipated solar project costs in half, resulting in a payback period of just 6.4 years.
Catalyze secures $200M to accelerate renewable energy growth
Catalyze has closed on a $200 million three-year HoldCo revolving and term debt and letter of credit facility from Deutsche Bank. The new facility bolsters the company’s capital capacity and fuels strategic expansion. The facility enables Catalyze to scale its platform by supporting acquisitions, financing pre-Notice to Proceed (NTP) development, and accelerating project deployments across its national footprint. By expanding access to flexible capital, Catalyze is further strengthening its ability to respond quickly to evolving customer needs and the growing demand for distributed clean energy infrastructure.
“This HoldCo facility represents a pivotal step, enabling us to invest across our enterprise, accelerate growth, and deepen our capacity to deliver clean energy at speed and scale,” said Catalyze CEO Jared Haines. “The alignment with Deutsche Bank reflects confidence in our business model and positions us to unlock significant value for our investors, customers, and the communities we serve.”
Cool factor: The partnership with Deutsche Bank also underscores the strength of Catalyze’s platform, which integrates proprietary technology, asset development expertise, and operational excellence to streamline the clean energy transition for commercial, industrial, and public sector clients. The company’s scalable model enables rapid origination, financing, and deployment of renewable energy projects that deliver long-term economic and environmental benefits.
“The rapid increase in demand for distributed energy solutions presents a significant opportunity, and Catalyze has demonstrated they are well-positioned to capitalize on it,” said Jeremy Eisman, head of infrastructure and energy financing at Deutsche Bank.
