Abu Dhabi’s Masdar has marked the completion of the $950 million Lockhart Solar and Storage complex in California, bringing a major renewable electricity facility into commercial operation as it expands its investment in the United States.
The project, located at Hinkley in San Bernardino County, was developed by Terra-Gen, the renewable energy producer jointly owned by Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners. It combines 365 megawatts of solar generating capacity with 173.7MW of battery storage, giving the complex a combined stated capacity of 538.7MW.
Masdar announced the milestone on Friday, following Terra-Gen’s confirmation of commercial operations earlier in the week. The companies estimate that the facility can meet the annual electricity requirements of approximately 350,000 homes and businesses, although actual output will depend on operating conditions and electricity demand.
The development contains more than 925,000 solar modules and 248 battery enclosures. Its storage equipment allows electricity generated during sunny periods to be retained for use at other times, providing greater flexibility than a solar installation operating without batteries.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hinkley site brought together employees, government officials, commercial lenders, customers and project partners. The event marked the completion of construction and the transition to commercial operations rather than the announcement of a new investment commitment.
Khaleefa Almheiri, president and chief executive of Masdar Americas, said the project reflected the company’s plans to expand its role in supplying electricity to the US market. He identified artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and wider economic activity as drivers of growing power demand.
Masdar said it has invested approximately $3 billion in the United States and intends to invest a further $20 billion over the next decade. The company is targeting a US renewable energy portfolio of up to 25 gigawatts by 2030. These figures represent its stated investment plans and capacity ambitions, not projects already completed.
Terra-Gen chief executive John O’Connor said pairing solar generation with storage increased the usefulness of the electricity produced. He said storage makes solar power available when it is needed most, an important consideration for California’s electricity system as consumption patterns change throughout the day.
The Lockhart complex has agreements to sell electricity to corporate customers as well as long-term power purchase contracts with California entities responsible for serving electricity consumers. The companies have not disclosed the contract prices or the identities of all purchasers in their completion announcements.
Engineering and construction work created more than 1,000 on-site jobs over four years, with approximately 880,000 working hours recorded, according to Terra-Gen. Those figures describe employment during the construction phase and should not be interpreted as the number of permanent positions at the operating facility.
The developer expects Lockhart to generate more than $40 million in property tax revenue over its operating life. That amount is a projection rather than revenue already collected, and Terra-Gen has also referred to additional contributions and benefits for the surrounding community.
The project represents an addition to Masdar’s US exposure through Terra-Gen, whose operations span utility-scale wind, solar and battery storage assets. Masdar’s ownership structure brings together Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, ADNOC and Mubadala Investment Company, which support its international renewable energy investment programme.
Terra-Gen identified Cupertino Electric as the contractor responsible for balance-of-plant engineering, procurement and construction, while EPC Services handled high-voltage works. First Solar supplied the photovoltaic modules and Nextpower provided the systems that track the sun’s movement to improve electricity generation.
Simon Day, Terra-Gen’s vice president and head of solar development, credited employees and contractors with delivering the project on schedule and within budget while maintaining a focus on safety. The company did not provide a detailed breakdown of construction expenditure or operating costs in its announcement.
The completed complex incorporates successive stages of development. Terra-Gen announced in July that the Lockhart Solar PV IV phase had entered commercial operation, adding 80MW of solar capacity. The November ceremony therefore recognised the finished integrated facility, including generation and storage infrastructure developed across the broader project site.
Terra-Gen says its wider gross operating portfolio comprises 4.4GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects across 34 renewable power sites in the United States, predominantly in California and Texas. Its portfolio also includes 5.6 gigawatt-hours of energy storage facilities.
Related Posts
Add A Comment