Chem-Energy, a petroleum products company, will invest more than $1 billion in solar and battery plant facilities in Central Texas.
Beginning in the spring of 2022, two facilities with a combined capacity of 400 MW/800 MWh of battery storage and 600 MW of solar power generating will be developed in Caldwell County. The first plant, which will be built on 3,511 acres in Uhland, is scheduled to open in 2023.
The projects will offer ERCOT and the Texas grid with renewable energy as well as grid stability.
“Caldwell County is the ideal strategic location for our flagship facilities in Texas,” stated Chem-Energy Corporation COO Robert Hayward. “The Texas Innovation Corridor provides a perfect environment for our organization’s expansion, with open property in a developing region, close proximity to Texas State University, and a healthy worker pipeline.”
400 permanent staff will be employed to assist the projects in the first year. The country’s first standardized solar PV and battery storage training center will be housed at one of the facilities.
Mortenson Construction will be the solar facility’s engineer and constructor, while KORE Power will supply the high energy density NMC batteries for power storage and Invenergy Services will offer back office administrative, energy asset management, and operations and maintenance support. Chem-Energy stated that Soundgrid Partners will offer project management, technical guidance, and support.
“Chem-creative Energy’s approach to solar energy will result in a facility design unlike anything seen previously in the industry,” stated Brad Heitland, Mortenson Construction’s business development executive. “Solar installations are often bigger and more sophisticated than other types of energy generation.” I am certain that we will establish a new benchmark for energy generation in the Texas Innovation Corridor and across the state.”
