Summit Ridge Energy, Castillo Engineering partner in 82MW US community solar portfolio

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Aerial view of a community solar project from Summit Ridge Energy in Illinois
A Summit Ridge Energy 3 MW community solar project in Morris, Illinois, US. Image: Summit Ridge Energy

US community solar developer Summit Ridge Energy has selected Castillo Engineering to provide design and engineering services on an 82MW portfolio of projects in Illinois, US.

Comprised of 26 community solar projects, each averaging 3MW capacity, it will use bifacial modules mounted on single-axis solar trackers. A majority of the projects will also provide pollinator-friendly habitats, an increasingly frequent interest from solar developers to implement agrivoltaics in a project.

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

Many of the projects are expected to start construction in the first quarter of 2024 and be completed by Q4 2024.

“We chose to work with Castillo Engineering on this portfolio of projects due to their extensive community solar experience within Illinois, their project management office, as well as their highly customised solutions,” said Pradeep Mohanraj, vice president of engineering at Summit Ridge Energy.

Community solar growth rising in Illinois

With this new partnership to build 82MW of community solar projects in Illinois, Summit Ridge Energy continues to increase its presence in the midwestern US state. Last year, it partnered with investment firm HASI to build, own and operate 250MW of community solar projects in Illinois and Maryland.

Moreover, Summit Ridge Energy raised a further US$275 million last November to fund a portfolio of 15 projects in Illinois and another 15 in Virginia. Soon after, PV Tech Premium spoke with the company’s co-founder and chief operating officer, Brian Dunn, about this transaction and the financing of projects in the US.

In 2021, the state passed a climate bill to accelerate renewables’ growth and expected 5.8GW of rooftop and community solar additions by 2030.

Community solar is poised to grow in the coming years, not only in Illinois but across the country. It is expected to add 6GW of capacity between 2023 and 2027, according to a report from Wood Mackenzie and the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA).

Graph showing community solar installation capacity in selected US states. Credit: PV Tech

As more states continue to pass legislation or programmes directed to community solar, its growth is set to accelerate even further thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Furthermore, Illinois is among the leading states in the US in the community solar market, ranking fourth with 220MW of installed solar capacity as of Q3 2023.

This year alone several project announcements have been made in Illinois, including community solar company Nautilus Solar Energy acquiring a 75.6MW portfolio in January, developer Reactivate partnering with US retailer Walmart and US Bancorp Impact Finance – a subsidiary of financing entity US Bank – to develop solar projects in Illinois and New York, the leading state for community solar.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
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

September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.
September 17, 2025
Nexamp has secured US$350 million through a long-term financing facility to expand its 6GW utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline in the US. 
September 17, 2025
The California State Legislature has passed two bills that aim to reduce energy prices in the state, AB 825 and SB 302.
Premium
September 16, 2025
At RE+, industry leaders pointed to the resilience of the US solar sector, despite challenges brought by the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' Act.
September 16, 2025
Two Wisconsin Republicans have introduced legislation to open access to community solar projects in the US state.
September 15, 2025
Sunrun has priced a securitisation of leases and power purchase agreements, taking its non-recourse debt capital raised in Q3 above US$1.5 billion. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA