Ashtrom’s U.S. Expansion: The Texas solar farm: Ashtrom’s impressive 2024 project
In 2024, Ashtrom Renewable Energy solidified its presence in the U.S. energy sector with the successful completion of its first American solar project, the Tierra Bonita solar farm in Pecos County, Texas. This landmark 306-megawatt (MWac) facility began construction in the first quarter of 2023 and, through efficient execution by engineering and construction firm Mortenson, started delivering power ahead of schedule in July 2024, reaching full commercial operation by the end of the year.
The project’s financing was secured through a substantial $270 million green loan from a consortium including BHI, Bayerische Landesbank, ING, Rabobank, and Societe Generale. A significant portion of Tierra Bonita’s output is dedicated to San Antonio’s municipal utility, CPS Energy, under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 180 MWac of clean electricity. This agreement was finalized as part of CPS Energy’s 2022 FlexPOWER Bundle initiative aimed at diversifying its energy sources.
Building on Success: New Texas Solar Initiatives After the 2024 Project
Leveraging the momentum from the Tierra Bonita facility, Ashtrom has deepened its partnership with CPS Energy by breaking ground on a second Texas solar farm. The new project, named “El Patrimonio,” is a 150 MW facility located on an 867-acre site on San Antonio’s South Side. Once operational, it is projected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 37,000 local homes.
Yitsik Mermelstein, CEO of Ashtrom Renewable Energy, emphasized the strategic growth this new development represents. “It is our second site in Texas, building on the success of our first project, delivering clean power to the residents of San Antonio,” Mermelstein noted. “It’s a strategic extension of the Ashtrom group’s commitment to the U.S. energy market.” The El Patrimonio project, governed by its own 20-year contract, further cements the collaboration between the Israeli firm and the San Antonio utility, as detailed in reports from the recent groundbreaking ceremony. From the successful 2024 launch in West Texas to new construction in Bexar County, Ashtrom’s investments signal a robust and expanding commitment to advancing renewable energy infrastructure in the Lone Star State.
Sources
- Projects | OnPeak Power | Over 1.6 GW of Solar & Storage
- Ashtrom secures funds for 306 MW Tierra Bonita solar project in Texas
- West Texas solar facility now generating power for CPS Energy
- Ashtrom Renewable Energy switches on 306 MW Tierra Bonita solar …
- Rolling Sun solar farm – Global Energy Monitor
- Tierra Bonita Solar Project | Mortenson
- Ashtrom secures $200m in financing from BHI for Texas solar project
- CPS Energy and Israel’s Ashtrom Renewable break ground on a …
