Doral Renewables has picked Bechtel to deliver three key phases of its Mammoth Solar project in Indiana, one of the largest PV plants in the United States.
The full project will have a capacity of 1.3GWac, boosting total solar capacity in Indiana by more than 20%.
Bechtel will design, engineer, and construct Mammoth South, Mammoth Central 1, and Mammoth Central 2, which together represent 900MWac of clean energy capacity.
Doral and Bechtel kicked off preparatory works earlier this year and will now proceed to the construction stage.
Bechtel will complete the design and begin permanent construction works, including installing solar panels, power cables, and substations.
General manager of renewables and clean power at Bechtel Scott Austin said: “Bechtel is proud to partner with Doral to deliver one of the nation’s largest solar projects.
“A project of this scale depends on strong collaboration with local building trades to ensure access to the skilled workforce needed.
“We’re working closely with craft professionals, creating high-quality jobs, and being a reliable partner to the community as we help deliver Mammoth Solar and increase the supply of clean, reliable solar power.”
Doral Renewables’ senior vice president of project and asset management Amit Nadkarni said: “Thanks to the meticulous planning and collaboration over the past several months, we are now poised to move confidently into construction.
“We remain deeply committed to the highest standards of safety, quality, and environmental stewardship throughout this phase.
“We are equally focused on fostering strong community relationships, ensuring meaningful local participation from the workforce and vendors, and supporting the county through direct, indirect, and induced economic benefits.”
Bechtel is leading the project’s design and delivery, overseeing all aspects of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and project management.
Over the next two years, the three upcoming phases will include the installation of approximately 2 million solar modules, 1 million of which will be made in the US.
At peak construction, the project is expected to create over 1200 jobs, including at least 15% dedicated to apprenticeships that will provide hands-on training for young professionals and newcomers to the construction industry.
When complete in 2027, Doral Renewables will implement agrivoltaics initiatives across the site which includes integrating on-site livestock grazing and crop cultivation around the panels (example pictured).
The aim of this dual-use technique is to enable local landowners to continue farming operations and maximise land use.