Meta and Zelestra are significantly expanding their collaborative solar energy portfolio, aiming to meet the tech giant’s rising electricity needs. The partnership has secured a power purchase agreement for the 180 MW Palmera Solar Plant in Texas, bringing their total commitment to approximately 1.4 GW of solar capacity across eight projects. These developments, all slated for completion by 2028, include sites in Texas and Indiana. By utilizing bifacial solar modules and focusing on sustainable land use, the companies are scaling renewable energy infrastructure to support the high power demands of large-scale data centers and corporate operations.
The newly announced Palmera Solar Plant in Freestone County, Texas, is the latest addition to a growing list of renewable energy initiatives. This project complements ongoing construction efforts at the 176 MW Skull Creek Solar Plant in Anderson County, Texas, and the 200 MW Reclamation Solar Project in Gibson County, Indiana. The Skull Creek facility is expected to utilize approximately 400,000 bifacial solar panels and generate significant local economic benefits, while the Reclamation project is uniquely positioned on former coal mining land, incorporating soil restoration and biodiversity efforts alongside the installation of 325,000 US-made bifacial solar modules.
These projects are part of a broader strategy to address the energy requirements of hyperscalers and major corporate clients. McCarthy Building Companies is leading the engineering, procurement, and construction for the Skull Creek site, while Qcells is providing both the solar modules and construction services for the Indiana project. With a development pipeline reaching 15 GW across the United States, Zelestra continues to prioritize large-scale solar deployment. The partnership has already successfully brought the 81 MW Jasper County Solar Project online, marking a successful start to their multi-state renewable energy expansion.