Slew of solar installations strengthen Texan energy grid | Projects Weekly
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This week on Projects Weekly, Roofit.Solar has made the jump to commercial installations in North America with a rooftop project in New York. Elsewhere in the northeast, Elevate Renewables has secured financing for a Boston-based BESS project attached to a data center. Moving south, a fleet of projects in Texas have put Parliament Energy, Ideematec, and Matrix Renewables in the solar spotlight. In California, OPTERRA and the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District have partnered for a district-wide energy facelift. Finally, Ameresco has completed a rooftop and parking garage installation at a courthouse on the northern edge of Chicagoland. Keep reading for all the details!
Elevate secures financing for Boston data center BESS project
Energy infrastructure developer Elevate Renewables has announced its closure of a $50 million Energy Transition Supplier Finance Facility, arranged by Dutch banking cooperative Rabobank.
The facility will support a solar and battery project connected to power a data center, the company says, which reinforces the link between modern energy infrastructure and the data center boom. Elevate CEO Josh Rogol calls the facility a “strategic enabler” for building in the modern market.
“By optimizing our cost of capital and aligning incentives across our supply chain, we can move faster, bid more competitively, and deliver critical infrastructure where it’s needed most, supporting the next wave of data center growth in the United States,” he says.
The project aims to provide reliable and dispatchable power to its data center, which Elevate adds is “driving unprecedented demand for power.” In response, the company is developing and acquiring a portfolio of solar and battery projects to meet those needs.
“Energy infrastructure is now directly tied to economic growth,” Rogol adds. “Facilities like this don’t just finance projects, they enable speed and competitiveness so we can execute for our customers and investors.”
Bright spot: As part of the portfolio, Elevate has acquired two separate 150 MW / 600 MWh projects in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. The Virginia project in particular, the firm says, is situated in the state’s “Data Center Alley” area, near Washington, D.C.
Roofit.Solar powers up New York farm resort with 91 kW rooftop project
Harlem Valley Homestead, one of New York’s “farm resorts,” has chosen Estonian solar roof manufacturer Roofit.Solar to supply a total of 91 kW of solar roofing.
The rooftop will expand the Wingdale, New York farm to a “sustainable agritourism destination,” allowing visitors to enjoy the destination for longer, representatives say. Planned to start in May, the project will take place over two phases between installing the rooftop itself, and then designing sustainable cabins to better accommodate overnight guests.
“We’re proud to be contributing to what is an ambitious expansion project by Harlem Valley Homestead and our largest US project yet,” says Greg Grace, chief growth officer of Roofit.Solar. “With our move into the US market, we want to support people and organizations to achieve their sustainability goals without compromising on design, and a site as picturesque as the Homestead warrants only the most beautiful solutions.”
ArcEdge Power, Roofit.Solar’s U.S.-based distribution partner, will manage the installation with help from local roofing contractors, the company says.
“For too long, on-roof solar and beautiful design have been at odds,” says ArcEdge Power president Russ Newton. “That’s why we are so excited to be officially deploying Roofit.Solar’s solution in the US and letting people know that there is an attractive alternative available for installing rooftop solar. We’re delighted that Harlem Valley Homestead has put its trust in us to be a part of this exciting project, where sustainability truly meets style.”
Bright spot: The project marks Roofit.Solar’s first commercial installation of any kind in the U.S., representatives say. The company recently expanded into the market in 2025, following the formation of its partnership with ArcEdge.
OPTERRA completes $33 million solar facelift on California school district
The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD) and OPTERRA Energy Services have announced the completion of a “comprehensive” district-wide energy modernization project.
Worth about $33 million, the project includes “critical infrastructure improvements” designed to reduce energy consumption across the district. Key components of the project include 3.1 MW worth of solar systems installed across 12 schools, LED lighting upgrades at 14 sites, and HVAC system replacements.
“This project represents a major step forward for our District,” says Cathy Bogh, president of the YCJUSD Board of Education. “We are proud to invest in modern, efficient, and sustainable facilities that directly benefit our students and staff, all while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. This partnership has allowed us to improve our schools for the current community of students and teachers, while planning responsibly for growth into the future.”
Bright spot: The project is set to deliver “significant” savings for the school, alongside the environmental benefits. Officials say the project could include more than $42 million in net savings over the next 20 years, as well as $5 million for the district in an Inflation Reduction Act grant.
Courtney Jenkins, CEO of OPTERRA Energy Services, says her team is proud to support the district’s vision for the future.
“YCJUSD’s leadership demonstrates how school districts can take a proactive, strategic approach to modernizing facilities while delivering measurable financial and environmental benefits,” she says. “By leveraging a comprehensive energy program, the District has transformed its campuses into more efficient, sustainable learning environments without increasing costs to the community.”
Parliament Energy, Ideematec finalize 1.2 GWac solar tracker agreement
Utility-scale solar tracker manufacturer Ideematec has reached agreements with Parliament Energy to supply its Horizon L:TEC 1P trackers on three upcoming solar projects.
The projects will provide a total of 1.2 GWac of energy, making up the majority of Parliament’s 2.1 GWac portfolio. The projects range in size from 285 MWac to 505 MWac, and are located across the state of Texas.
“Our proven performance in hurricane-prone regions, combined with our advanced hail stow design, gives PEH confidence that our L:TEC 1P system can withstand both high winds and hail—even when occurring simultaneously,” says Philipp Klemm, CEO of Ideematec Inc. “We are excited to expand our collaboration with PEH and support the delivery of gigawatts of clean energy across Texas.”
Bright spot: Ideematec’s tracker systems are designed to withstand high winds and severe weather conditions of any kind, including hail. The systems sport decoupled drive technology, stow protection, and can withstand wind speeds of up to 224 mph. These improvements make Ideematec’s products ideal for the Texas solar market, representatives say.
Ideematec has previously partnered with Parliament on the company’s 480 MWac Parliament Solar Project near Houston, which opened last summer. The two’s next collaboration will revolve around the 505-MWac Tehuacana Creek Solar, just south of Dallas.
Ameresco completes solar installation at Chicagoland courthouse
Energy infrastructure solutions firm Ameresco has completed its latest solar installation, this time at Skokie Courthouse in Cook County, Illinois.
Totaling 1.5 MW between the rooftop and parking garage, the installation sits near the northern edge of the Chicagoland area. At its peak, the project will generate about 1.7 GWh of renewable energy every year, which could offset over 50% of the facility’s annual electrical consumption.
“This project demonstrates Cook County’s commitment to leading by example when it comes to clean energy and responsible stewardship of public facilities,” says Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County board president. “By investing in on‑site renewable energy at the Skokie Courthouse, we are reducing emissions, lowering energy costs, and creating long‑term value for residents.”
Bright spot: The energy benefits of the project are projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 722 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. That number is equivalent to the carbon taken in by 724 acres of forest each year. Additionally, the project is expected to generate enough energy to match the annual electricity usage of about 150 homes.
“Projects like the Skokie Courthouse solar installation highlight how public sector facilities can play a meaningful role in the energy transition,” says Lou Maltezos, co-president of Ameresco. “We’re proud to collaborate with Cook County to deliver a solution that supports resilience, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility while producing measurable environmental benefits for the community.”
Ameresco also has plans for eight additional projects across the county. Each are currently in the design phase, the company says, and together they represent about 3.3 MW of new solar capacity to be installed by late 2027.
Matrix Renewables energizes 281 MWdc project in central Texas
TPG Rise subsidiary Matrix Renewables has announced the start of commercial operations for its 281MWdc / 210MWac Stillhouse Solar project in central Texas’s Bell County.
Representing an investment of over $380 million for the county, the project includes a 15-year power purchase agreement with affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group, the company says. The project will provide solar energy to the equivalent of 48,862 homes, the firm estimates, strengthening the Lone Star State’s grid resiliency.
“This transaction marks the major milestone in the project’s lifecycle, transitioning from construction into long-term operations, where we were able to work with our partners and stakeholders to optimize the capital structure to deliver stable, renewable energy generation within the ERCOT market,” says Cindy Tindell, Matrix’s managing director and head of U.S. operations.
Bright spot: The project now joins Matrix’s American portfolio of more than 8.7 GW of renewable energy projects. Globally, the company sports an overall portfolio of 15.5 GW in solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen projects.
