Isolux builds first utility scale Navajo solar project

Construction of the project is at a 75 completion point, with Isolux providing the engineering, procurement and construction of the plant. Lead funding for the Kayenta project will come from tax credits and loans from the Cooperative Finance Corporation. Western Area Power Administration, which owns the adjacent substation, and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., helped set up financing. The project was also supported the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The Kayenta Solar Project, located on the Navajo Nation Reservation, will cover approximately 210 acres and consist of 117,952 photovoltaic panels mounted on single axis trackers, and controlled by 10 power blocks. NTUA, which oversees the 27,000 square miles reservation, will sell energy from the Kayenta project to Arizona utility SRP.

At the time the plant was approved last year, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority general manager Walter Haase said, “As the primary utility on Navajo, it was important NTUA take the lead on establishing a large-scale renewable project on the Navajo Nation.” Hasse said. “Although (jobs created by the project) will not completely supplement job losses from coal mine layoffs or reduction in operations at the local coal power plants, it is an important next step in the development of a green economy for the Navajo Nation.”

Isolux Corsan has approximately 766 MW of solar capacity has been installed or is currently under construction in Spain, Italy, UK, South Africa, Peru, Honduras, Japan and the U.S. The first Isolux solar plant in the U.S. was a 25 MW-DC solar plant in El Centro, CA.