RWE expands Illinois footprint with 273MW solar project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The Emily Solar project in Clark and Cumberland counties, which now comprises two solar plants and three wind projects. Image: RWE

German energy company RWE has commissioned its 273.6MW Emily Solar project in Illinois, taking the developer’s operating renewable energy portfolio in the state to 1GW. 

The Emily Solar project, located across Clark and Cumberland counties, marks the latest addition to RWE’s Illinois portfolio, which now comprises two solar plants and three wind projects.

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

RWE has operated in Illinois for 15 years and has continued expanding its renewables footprint as utilities and corporate buyers increase demand for new generation capacity in the US Midwest. The company said the Emily Solar commissioning strengthens grid reliability while delivering “abundant, affordable energy” to consumers. 

Hanson Wood, chief development officer, RWE Americas, “As electricity demand continues to grow across Illinois, reaching 1GW of operating capacity in this state is an important milestone for RWE and for the communities we serve. Emily Solar shows how energy projects can deliver safe abundant, reliable power while creating jobs and providing tangible local benefits for Clark and Cumberland Counties.” 

RWE Americas, the US arm of RWE, operates a diversified portfolio of around 13GW of generation assets across 27 states, spanning solar, wind and battery storage technologies. 

Last year, RWE Clean Energy commissioned the 200MW Stoneridge Solar PV project in Texas, alongside a co-located 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), marking a key expansion of its US renewables portfolio. The project, located in Milam County, was completed by RWE’s US arm following construction works that concluded on site yesterday, according to the company. 

Read Next

June 29, 2026
SAEL Industries has broken ground on a 10GW integrated solar manufacturing facility in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
June 29, 2026
Over US$121 billion of investment across 92GW of renewables projects in the US is at risk from federal scrutiny, according to Wood Mackenzie.
June 29, 2026
Nama Power and Water Procurement has launched a tender for two utility-scale solar projects in Oman with a combined capacity of 1.5GW.
June 29, 2026
German energy firm RWE and Greek power supplier PPC have completed construction on a 930MW portfolio of solar PV projects in northern Greece.
June 29, 2026
Chinese PV manufacturer LONGi has unveiled a new containerised solar solution designed for remote off-grid industrial-scale applications.
Premium
June 29, 2026
eBOS hardware, long overlooked in PV design, is now central to solar project cost optimisation as technologies advance, writes Shreeyashi Ojha.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye