Lightsource BP Completes $250 Mn Financing for Solar Project in Texas

Lightsource BP has successfully closed on a USD 250 million financing package for its 260 MW Impact Solar project located in Texas

Lightsource BP, a global solar leader, has announced that it has successfully closed on a USD 250 million financing package for its Impact Solar project located in Lamar County, Texas, 120 miles northeast of Dallas.

The energy generated by the 260 MW project will be traded through a long-term agreement with BP.

Dev Sanyal, incoming EVP Gas and Low Carbon Energy, BP, said, “This project demonstrates that the competitiveness of solar energy means that power offtake structures widely and historically used for conventional generation are now gaining traction for solar energy projects. We see an exciting future from the increase in competitive renewable energy in the U.S. power markets, and opportunities to integrate this with trading and customer capabilities.”

“Our partnership with BP enables us to bring meaningful, large-scale solar projects such as this one in Texas to fruition,” said Nick Boyle, Lightsource BP’s Group CEO. “We are continuing to support the transition towards a lower-carbon energy system by successfully advancing our solar energy projects across the globe.”

Lightsource BP and project investors will fund an estimated USD 250 million into the solar plant. The senior debt facility for the project was provided by HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (HSBC) and National Westminster Bank PLC (NatWest). 

The project is expected to create almost 300 jobs in construction, operations, maintenance and asset management. In addition, generation from a project of this size and type would typically be expected to provide clean, cost-effective energy for the equivalent of more than 34,000 homes in the Texas market and provide an offset of 268,675 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, comparable to taking over 57,000 fuel-burning cars off the road.

Kevin Smith, Lightsource BP’s CEO of the Americas, said, “At Lightsource BP we’re on a mission to rapidly accelerate the growth in renewable energy, while maximising the environmental and local community benefits of each of our solar projects. We’re looking forward to working with our partners, suppliers and the community in Lamar County to bring this responsible solar approach to our project in Texas.”

Construction of the project has started with commercial operation expected by the end of 2020. Construction is being undertaken by Swinerton Renewable Energy.