OCI Energy and Arava Power partner to develop a 260 MW solar plant in Texas

OCI Energy, based in San Antonio, and Arava Power, an Israeli company, announce a partnership to build a 260 MW solar plant in Wharton County, Texas, with construction set to begin in 2025.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

OCI Energy, a clean energy developer based in San Antonio, Texas, has entered into a partnership with Arava Power, an Israeli pioneer in solar energy, to jointly develop the SunRoper project, a 260-megawatt alternating current (MWac) solar plant in Wharton County, Texas. This project aims to strengthen clean energy capacity in one of the highest electricity demand regions in Texas and the United States. SunRoper’s construction is expected to begin in 2025, demonstrating both companies’ commitment to expanding renewable energy infrastructure in the US market.

A strategic partnership for the Texas market

This collaboration marks the second joint venture between OCI Energy and Arava Power. In 2021, Arava Power acquired OCI Energy’s SunRay project, a 200 MWac solar plant in Uvalde County, Texas, which became operational in September 2024. This previous acquisition laid the foundation for a successful cooperation between the two companies, strengthening their presence in the Texas energy market.

Economic and energy impact of the SunRoper project

The SunRoper project, located approximately 60 miles southwest of Houston, will span 2,000 acres as a ground-mounted photovoltaic facility. In addition to providing clean and reliable electricity, this solar plant will contribute to local economic growth by creating jobs and attracting investments in the region. OCI Energy President Sabah Bayatli stated that this partnership reflects a shared vision for promoting solar energy solutions and improving grid reliability in high-demand markets.

Future prospects for renewable energy in Texas

By combining their expertise, OCI Energy and Arava Power aim to strengthen Texas’ renewable energy infrastructure. The development of SunRoper is expected to play a key role in reducing emissions, delivering resilient and affordable electricity, and supporting regional economic growth. Arava Power CEO Ilan Zidkony expressed enthusiasm for this continued collaboration, highlighting that the experience gained with the SunRay project and the strong partnerships established are major assets for the future success of this initiative.

T1 Energy will supply Treaty Oak with 900MW of solar modules over three years, leveraging domestically produced cells from Austin to meet increasing regulatory requirements.
Solarpro commissions Hungary’s largest photovoltaic plant using 700,000 advanced modules supplied by LONGi, with an expected annual output of 470 GWh.
UK-based manufacturer Awendio Solaris plans to build a 2.5 GW solar industrial platform, expandable to 5 GW, in Quebec, targeting North American markets with a 100% regional supply chain.
Technique Solaire has secured €40mn ($43.5mn) in junior debt from BNP Paribas Asset Management to structure two solar portfolios totalling 392 MWp across France, Spain and the Netherlands.
EDF Power Solutions UK has appointed METLEN to lead engineering and construction for the 400MW Longfield solar farm in Essex, with commissioning scheduled for 2030.
Independent power producer Neoen has secured six agrivoltaic projects totalling 124 MWp, reinforcing its position as the leading winner in French solar tenders since 2021.
As the photovoltaic industry enters a phase of deep restructuring, the duel between TOPCon 4.0 and heterojunction technologies is redefining manufacturers’ margins. In 2026, reducing production costs becomes the primary strategic lever for global market leaders.
JA Solar and Trinasolar top Wood Mackenzie’s latest semiannual ranking despite a sector-wide net loss of $2.2 billion. Industrial leaders are strengthening their grip on global photovoltaic module supply through rigorous financial discipline.
BayWa r.e. has finalised the sale of a 46 MW floating solar park, the country’s largest, to a Dutch public-local consortium, marking a new step in the decentralised structuring of the solar market in the Netherlands.
The ATUM Solar industrial complex, located in Ain Sokhna, will include three factories—two of 2 GW capacity—backed by a $220mn investment from an international consortium.
AMEA Power has completed the commercial commissioning of a 120 MWp solar project in Kairouan, marking a national first in Tunisia for a renewable energy installation of this scale.
The Gerus plant becomes the first solar installation in Namibia to sell electricity directly on the Southern African Power Pool regional market.
Japanese conglomerate Tokyu teams up with Global Infrastructure Management and Clean Energy Connect to build 800 low-voltage solar plants totalling 70MWDC, under an off-site power purchase agreement for its facilities.
T1 Energy has begun construction of a solar cell facility in Milam County, Texas, representing an investment of up to $425mn, aimed at strengthening U.S. industrial autonomy in the photovoltaic supply chain.
Pivot Energy has secured $225mn in funding from three banking partners to support a portfolio of 60 community solar power plants across nine US states.
Voltalia has started building a 43-megawatt hybrid plant in Sainte-Anne, combining solar, battery storage and bioenergy to meet growing electricity demand in western French Guiana.
Masdar’s exit ends ReNew Energy's privatisation attempt, despite offer rising to $8.15 per share.
California surpassed 52.3% of electricity from renewables and large hydro in 2024, marking a major energy milestone while increasing pressure on storage, permitting and curtailed production.
European Energy France has secured two wins in tenders issued by the French Energy Regulatory Commission for its agrivoltaic parks in Saint-Voir, with a combined capacity of 14.3 MWp and commissioning expected by late 2027.
TotalEnergies will supply Google with 1TWh of renewable electricity from a 20MW solar plant in Malaysia under a 21-year power purchase agreement.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.