DESRI starts construction at 150MW solar-plus-storage project in New Mexico

July 15, 2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
DESRI's Red Horse 3 solar project in Arizona.
DESRI has an operating portfolio of 3.8GW of solar capacity in the US. Image: DESRI.

Independent power producer D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) has started construction at a 150MW solar-plus-storage project in the US state of New Mexico.

The Santa Tera Solar and Storage Project will combine a 150MW solar facility with a 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and is now under construction in Doña Ana County. SOLV Energy will serve as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project, while LG Energy Solution Vertech will provide the batteries, which DESRI notes will be made in the US.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

LG Energy Solution Vertech is the system integrator subsidiary of LG Energy Solution, responsible for packaging batteries made by its parent company into a complete BESS and integrating them into sites. Last month, the company started production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells in Michigan.

In January, DESRI sought loan financing for the project, and our colleagues at Energy-Storage.news reported that the project would make use of 156 battery units utilising LFP cell chemistry battery technology. Ultimately, financing for the project came from DNB Bank ASA, New York Branch and the National Bank of Canada.

DESRI has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with local utility El Paso Electric to sell power generated at the project, and is the company’s second project in the state, following the start of construction at the Carne project in August 2024.

“The Santa Teresa Project is a cornerstone of DESRI’s growing partnership with El Paso Electric and a prominent example of how cost-effective solar and storage assets can power New Mexico’s future,” said DESRI chief development officer Hy Martin.

The project is DESRI’s latest investment in the US south-west, following the start of construction at a solar-plus-storage site in Arizona last month. Similarly to its latest work in New Mexico, the developer signed a 20-year PPA to sell power, this time to the Arizona Public Service. Following the start of construction on these projects, DESRI now has 1.7GW of solar capacity under construction and 3.8GW of capacity in operation in the US.

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
October 28, 2025
BESS are 'the new player that everyone is talking about,' in Europe’s power purchase agreement (PPA) space, according to LevelTen.
October 27, 2025
Engie has signed additional PPAs with Meta, expanding their partnership to more than 1.3GW across four solar projects in Texas.
October 27, 2025
Waaree Energies has secured four solar module supply contracts totalling 692MW – three for projects in India and one in the US through its subsidiary.
October 27, 2025
US solar technology company Swift Solar has deployed perovskite solar technology as part of a Department of Defence cyber warfare exercise in the state of Virginia.
October 24, 2025
The Emirati state-owned renewables developer Masdar has begun construction on a giant solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi.
October 23, 2025
US solar manufacturer T1 Energy sold approximately 725MW of solar modules in Q3 2025, as it continues to expand US manufacturing capabilities.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
November 12, 2025
10am PST / 1pm EST
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany