SB Energy LLC, the renewable energy division of Japan's SoftBank Group Corp has begun commercial operations of the 900-MWdc Orion Solar Belt portfolio. This project features over 1.3 million American-made solar modules manufactured by First Solar in Texas.
SB Energy Installs 1.3 Million American-Made Solar Panels
SB Energy has announced that its Orion I, Orion II and Orion III solar projects—collectively called the "Orion Solar Belt"—are now operational. These three solar farms feature 1.3 million American-made solar panels from First Solar.
However, while this may seem like a major boost for the Texas grid, 85% of the electricity will be used to power Google data centres in Ellis County and its cloud services in the Dallas area. Only 15% will supply homes and businesses in Texas. Google has signed a $1 billion power purchase agreement with SB Energy Global as part of its initiative to become carbon-free by 2030.
Since the solar panels were manufactured domestically, SB Energy Global, a subsidiary of SoftBank anticipates qualifying for incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 without any Republican support in Congress. Despite this, Texas officials were present at the event attempting to take credit for the project’s success.
“The Biden-Harris Administration envisioned an industrial strategy for clean energy that’s built and installed by American workers and powering American companies in proud American communities. This future is seen in action through the Orion Solar Belt in Texas. This project showcases how American-made clean energy can power data centres and our future.” said Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy.
Orion Solar Farms to Power Google Data Centers
According to The Houston Chronicle, the three Orion solar farms are located in the town of Buckholts, about 150 miles northwest of Houston and 70 miles north of Austin, with a population of fewer than 400 residents. Built side by side, these farms collectively generate 875 megawatts of energy. Based on data from the Solar Energy Industries Association, a project of this size in Texas could power around 105,000 homes—although, in this case, the energy will primarily be used to power Google facilities.
“Google’s data centres house some of the world’s most popular services and are a major economic engine for 21st-century business. Our goal is to make sure that the services and products that people and customers use every day are powered by reliable carbon-free energy around the clock. We’re thrilled SB Energy’s Orion Solar Belt is coming online, helping build a stronger future for communities and Google in Texas. Said Ben Sloss, Google vice president of 24×7 and capacity.
Texas Expands Solar Leadership with Orion Solar Belt
Google is not the only tech giant expanding its investments in Texas. The launch of the Orion Solar Belt further highlights Texas' growing leadership in solar energy production, according to The Houston Chronicle's report on the project. SB Energy estimates that the construction and component manufacturing for the Orion Solar Belt will create 3,000 jobs. Over its lifetime, the three solar projects are expected to contribute $100 million to local services.
The Texas economy is thriving, largely due to policies advocated by the Biden-Harris administration. The Lone Star State ranks first in the U.S. for total energy consumption and installed renewable energy capacity. Currently, Texas has 70 gigawatts of installed solar, wind and energy storage capacity, allowing residents to obtain nearly 30% of their energy from renewable sources.
Producing the components and racking systems in the U.S. by American workers aligns perfectly with the goals of the Inflation Reduction Act. The Orion Solar Belt demonstrates that the IRA is effectively creating good-paying jobs for American workers and increasing access to clean, renewable energy across the country.