Solar developer and independent energy producer Cypress Creek Renewables celebrated the commercial operation of Zier Solar + Storage, a project in Brackettville, Texas, consisting of 208 MW of solar energy and 80 MWh of collocated storage. The facility adds capacity to the electric grid as the state’s energy needs reach record highs.
“Clean, reliable energy is critical to supporting the remarkable continued growth in Texas,” said Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables. “We are incredibly proud to bring more solar and dispatchable energy online from batteries like ours at Zier, which have already proven critical to keeping the lights on and the air conditioning running when Texans need it. need most.”
See Solar + storage details
The 208 MW of PV is enough power to power more than 41,600 homes in Texas annually. Meanwhile, the 80 MWh of battery storage has already been used by the ERCOT network to alleviate supply stress during a time of increased demand. ERCOT is increasingly using energy storage to alleviate stress on the electrical grid.
The project will generate $11.5 million in tax revenue for the county, with another $11.7 million earmarked for the Bracket Independent School District. A recent study conducted in Texas also shows no evidence of a negative market impact for homes near utility-scale solar facilities.
“Texas needs every megawatt available, and low-cost renewable energy has proven critical as it continues to reach new production heights at ERCOT,” said Judd Messer, Texas Vice President of Advanced Power Alliance. “Solar provides ample capacity during peak daytime hours and sets records almost every month, and fast-response energy storage delivers a significant reliability benefit when demand surges or available energy unexpectedly falls offline. A diverse mix of resources is the only way to ensure our network is both reliable and affordable.”
Funding for the project was provided by several partners, including the North American Development Bank (NADBank), a binational financial institution organized to provide support for projects that preserve, protect, or enhance the environment to promote the well-being of the people of the United States and Mexico. The infrastructure funder’s Managing Director John Beckham spoke at the May 2 event.
“NADBank is committed to financing projects that help keep the state of Texas leading the nation in clean energy generation. Combined solar and battery storage projects like this one are critical to the reliability of the ERCOT grid and the availability of energy to power our great state,” said John Beckham, NADBank Chief Executive Officer. “Today we celebrate this project coming online thanks to a strong partnership with Cypress Creek Renewables, a like-minded entity focused on developing sustainable energy infrastructure.”
Cypress Creek develops in Texas
Cypress Creek has been developing projects in Texas since its founding in 2014 and, through Cypress Creek Solutions, the company’s operations services company, operates nearly 1 GW across the state, including 18 projects owned by Cypress Creek.
Across Texas, Cypress Creek has a 6 GW pipeline with 24 projects in construction or development, including a 100 MWh standalone battery storage project in Rosenberg, near Houston, expected to be commercially operational next month.
Cypress Creek is backed by EQT Partners, a purpose-driven global investment organization.
“The Zier Hybrid Solar Site sets a new standard for large-scale renewable energy projects and is a critical step toward supporting Texas’ growing energy demand, driven by a growing population, ever-increasing demand for data centers with the rise of AI and electrification,” said Alex Darden, EQT Partner and Head of Infrastructure, Americas. “EQT is committed to helping advance the energy transition by supporting companies like CCR, and the immense scale and impact of this project is a testament to Cypress Creek’s commitment to transforming North America’s energy infrastructure.”
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