Recurrent Energy has begun construction of its 186MW Pflugerville solar project near Austin, Texas.
Signal Energy has been appointed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor at the nearly 950 acre project, with RP Construction Services (RPCS) performing mechanical installation and E Light Electric (ELE) carrying out the low voltage electrical installation.
RigUp is supplying skilled labour to both sub-contractors. RPCS said 350 construction jobs, half of which will be performed by local workers, were expected to be created by the project.
The Pflugerville solar project (pictured) will feature DuraTrack HZ V3 single-axis solar trackers from Array Technologies, installed by RP Construction Services, and is slated to be completed in the summer of 2021.
“We’re happy to be bringing in local labor to help us build this great project,” says RPCS Chief Sales Officer Alex Smith.
The tracker technology will keep the solar PV modules following the sun on its course throughout the day, optimizing energy gains and ensuring up to a 20 to 25% increase in energy production over fixed-tilt systems, the company said.
Once operational, the Pflugerville Solar Project is expected to power the equivalent of nearly 27,000 Austin-area homes, providing low-cost solar power to Austin Energy’s customers for 15 years.
The project will help cost-effectively reduce emissions and support the utility’s plan to exit from coal-fired power generation by the end of 2022.