Construction Commences for bp’s 187MWdc Texas Solar Project

bp has commenced the construction of the Peacock Solar project, a 187MWdc facility situated 10 miles north of Corpus Christi in San Patricio County, Texas. 

This initiative contributes to the global shift towards lower carbon energy. Under a long-term power purchase agreement, Peacock will deliver all its generated electricity to Gulf Coast Growth Ventures (GCGV), a joint venture between ExxonMobil and SABIC. GCGV produces materials for various applications, and Peacock will directly supply power to the facility, generating enough renewable energy to power around 34,000 homes annually. 

The project is set to create approximately 300 jobs during construction and contribute over $25 million in tax revenue over the initial 25 years.

“Securing this agreement and kicking off construction of Peacock helps support the transition to lower carbon energy, while benefiting local communities and the economy,” said Dave Lawler, bp America chairman and president. “It’s another way bp is accelerating growth of our US solar generation capacity, investing in America, and advancing our transformation to an integrated energy company.”

“We want to be good stewards of our environment,” added Paul Fritsch, president at GCGV. “Once online, the solar-generated electricity will be used to partially power our plant and help reduce emissions in support of a net-zero future.”

Lightsource bp, a global solar leader and bp’s 50:50 joint-venture partner, is leading the development and construction management of the project. PCL Construction, the primary engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, will oversee the installation of ultra-low carbon solar panels. These panels, along with trackers, will be sourced from US-based manufacturers First Solar and GameChange Solar, respectively.

Peacock is designed not just for energy production but also as a habitat for agricultural and biodiversity initiatives. This includes planting native vegetation under and around the solar panels to support pollinators and wildlife. The goal is to enhance habitat value, species diversity, soil health, and overall ecosystem functions at the solar farm. Additionally, the site will incorporate agrivoltaic practices, such as sheep grazing, benefiting the local rural economy and maintaining farmland productivity.