Maryland-based independent power producer (IPP) Sunraycer Renewables has acquired two utility-scale solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 325MWac from Apricus Energy.
The acquisition comprises the 175MWac Gem City project in Adams County, Illinois, and the 150MWac Mighty Mississippi project in New Madrid County, Missouri, expanding Sunraycer’s presence in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market.
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Gem City will interconnect with utility Ameren’s 138kV transmission system, while Mighty Mississippi is planned to connect to Ameren’s 161kV system.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2028, with commercial operations targeted for 2029. The projects are expected to support an estimated 560 construction jobs.
“Gem City and Mighty Mississippi are compelling additions to our growing portfolio of advanced, well-sited solar projects,” said David Lillefloren, CEO of Sunraycer.
“Both projects expand our geographic reach and position us to help meet growing electricity demand across the Midwest. We’re grateful to the Apricus team for their work advancing these projects and look forward to carrying them through construction and into operation.”
Sunraycer expects to use “safe-harboured” [subscription required] equipment for both projects. Sunraycer said it will work with landowners, local officials and community stakeholders in Adams and New Madrid counties as the projects progress.
Algorithm Law served as legal counsel to Sunraycer, while Holland and Knight advised the sellers.
Sunraycer, a portfolio company of Crayhill Capital Management, said both projects have secured site control, completed environmental studies and substantially completed key permitting activities. The developments are in the final phase of MISO’s interconnection process.
Apart from these, the IPP has a utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio of approximately 3GW across the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) markets.
The portfolio comprises approximately 1.3GW of operating and under-construction assets, alongside around 1.7GW of projects in its active development pipeline. Its project footprint spans Texas, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Key assets include the 520MWdc Lupinus I and II solar projects in northeast Texas, which are under construction and include 411MWh of battery storage. The projects are backed by power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Google for 400MWac.
Sunraycer’s Texas portfolio also includes the operational 218MWac Gaia and 148MWac Midpoint solar projects, as well as the 100MWdc Eagle Springs solar project, which is under construction with 66MWh of storage. The company signed two Environmental Attribute Purchase Agreements (EAPAs) with data and technology giant Meta for 310MW of solar PV in Texas, including the Gaia project in May.
Its standalone storage portfolio includes the 201MWac Staccato BESS project in Texas.
