Bechtel to build 272-MW Texas solar farm for Turkey's Sabanci Renewables

Turkey’s Sabanci Renewables Inc has hired US engineering firm Bechtel Corp to build the 272-MW (dc) Cutlass Solar II project it recently acquired in Fort Bend County, Texas.

Bechtel said on Thursday that its job will include engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and project management for the solar farm scheme. Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2023, with works expected to wrap up in the second quarter of 2024.

“Bechtel’s use of new technology in robotics and digital management will help move Cutlass Solar Two from construction to operations in record time, bringing additional renewable energy generation to Texas,” said Kelley Brown, EPC Operations manager, North America Core Renewables, Bechtel Infrastructure.

Sabanci Renewable, a unit of Turkish conglomerate Sabanci Holdings (IST:SAHOL), acquired the Cutlass Solar II project from Switzerland’s Advanced Power AG in October. The Fort Bend scheme is its first utility-scale solar project in the US.

The 1,100-acre (445.2 ha) site is located about 40 miles (64.4 km) southwest of Houston. The solar farm will connect to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) Houston Zone, feeding enough power to supply around 40,000 homes.

“Sabanci and Bechtel closely collaborated to develop the project on a record schedule, and we are confident our partnership will successfully deliver our first U.S. renewable energy facility as planned,” added Ismail Bilgin, CEO of Sabanci Renewables Inc.

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