The United States is confronting an “energy emergency” spurred by the proliferation of data centers and mass electrification. To meet increasingly steep power demand projections, it will be imperative for the U.S. to leverage as many generation sources as possible. Considering wind development is (at least temporarily) off the table, those seeking to harness carbon-free power will have to lean on solar PV and energy storage projects.
One problem- plenty of locals don’t want them in their communities. Some believe utility-scale solar sites are encroaching upon valuable farmland; others worry about potential lithium battery fires like the one in Moss Landing, California last week.
Non-lithium storage solutions offer a workaround to the latter concern, and the former can be addressed by constructing projects in places nobody else wants to build stuff, like on top of an abandoned mine. And that’s exactly what a Washington, D.C.-based clean energy company is doing in a plan to provide clean power to nearly 34,000 Illinois homes.
This little heart of mine
Sol Systems has reached the financial close of and started construction on the Tilden Solar Project in Randolph County, Illinois. The $345 million, 182-megawatt (MW) solar farm is being built on a 1,050-acre historic subsurface mine that has been derelict for roughly 30 years, part of an 840,000-acre swath of such sites running through Southern Illinois that make surface land development particularly challenging. It is the largest known solar project being built on reclaimed mine land.
“This project represents what Sol Systems is all about- bringing renewable energy solutions to the most challenging and impactful sites,” noted Yuri Horwitz, the company’s CEO. Sol Systems is operating, building, and managing more than 7 gigawatts (GW) of projects across 38 states. “The Tilden project is a blueprint for how we believe clean energy development should be done,” he added.”
Historical mining operations helped advance economic development in the area for decades, but once the mines were depleted of resources and shut down in the 1990s, the surrounding communities bore the brunt of the financial impact. Sol Systems believes it can reinvigorate those blue-collar communities not only by cleaning up an abandoned brownfield but also by contributing to the local tax base. On top of millions of dollars in estimated tax revenues, the project will deploy at least 20 years of ongoing investments in local workforce development, community partnerships, and environmental stewardship initiatives to ensure that the benefits of clean energy extend beyond the project itself. Additionally, the Tilden Solar project is creating approximately 300 construction jobs, with the majority being local hires in collaboration with area unions, including carpenters, operators, and electricians.
Sol Systems collaborated with experts in mine engineering and reclamation to overcome challenges associated with the underground mining operation and burdened surface rights. The developer is also conferring with conservation partners to implement ecosystem restoration initiatives, including efforts to promote and preserve native species and pollinator habitats on-site.
“Building this project on a subsurface mine requires innovation, precision, and a commitment to doing things safely,” noted Andy Poirot, vice president of the Tilden Solar project construction for McCarthy Building Companies, the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. “This is a prime example of how renewable energy projects can create new opportunities within our industry and for the communities where projects are being built while preserving the environment for future generations.”
Domestic content
The Sol Systems team partnered with Nextracker on developing a safe and effective tracker and foundation design, ultimately securing 147 surface waivers from unique entities, demonstrating the project’s complexity and Sol Systems’ commitment to making it work.
Nextracker, which delivered its first 100% domestic solar trackers in December, will supply U.S.-manufactured racking systems for the Tilden Solar Project.
“Nextracker is proud to be working with Sol Systems and McCarthy Building Companies on the Tilden Solar Project which will be using American-made steel components,” said Dan Shugar, Nextracker founder and CEO. “Together, we’re collaborating to deliver best-in-class tracker and foundation solutions, purpose-built to meet the project’s unique geotechnical and sustainability requirements- both above and below ground- using the best of American innovation.”
Nextracker isn’t the only company providing made-in-the-USA components, either- Qcells will supply the project with domestically manufactured solar modules.
“At Qcells, we are proud to be a part of a project that not only advances renewable energy but also strengthens the U.S. manufacturing supply chain,” said Mr. IP Kim, Qcells GES President. “The Tilden project highlights the importance of using domestically produced modules to meet the nation’s clean energy goals, while also delivering economic benefits to American workers. We’re excited to partner with Sol Systems to make this innovative project a reality.”
If this sounds familiar…
If the idea of turning abandoned mines into carbon-free generation projects rings a bell, it may be because global energy company RWE recently announced a partnership with Peabody Energy, a coal mining company, to repurpose reclaimed land previously used for mining in Indiana and Illinois.
The tandem will build out a 5.5 GW pipeline of 10 potential projects that could power more than 850,000 homes across the region. They also maintain existing agricultural lands, according to RWE, ensuring that rural areas benefit from economic growth.
