From left to right: Representatives of Grunloh Builders, Donohue and Associates, Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District, Onyx Renewables, Sol Systems and Verde Solutions participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a 2.5-megawatt onsite solar project.
Onyx Renewables celebrated the groundbreaking of a 2.5-MW onsite solar project along with Sol Systems, the initial project developer, and Verde Solutions, the engineering and construction company for the project, marking the start of major upgrades at an Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD) wastewater treatment facility in Illinois.
The solar project, set to begin construction this spring, will feature a ground-mount array that generates clean, affordable power for UCSD’s southwest wastewater treatment plant. Any excess power will be used as credits to further offset UCSD’s power costs.
Onyx will complete development, oversee construction, finance, own and operate the onsite solar energy system, providing UCSD with stable, low-cost electricity through a long-term power purchase agreement. Onyx will also monetize the project’s renewable energy credits (RECs) as part of the Illinois Shines REC program. Sol Systems originated and initially developed the project in 2022 before transferring it to Onyx. Verde Solutions will serve as EPC partner, handling the design and permitting of the project. The system is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
“Building on our extensive experience with water and wastewater treatment facilities, Sol Systems is proud of the partnership built with UCSD over the last few years as we developed this project. Onsite, this project will generate local, fixed price electricity, helping manage costs for UCSD for the next 15 years,” said Anna Toenjes, Associate Vice President of Impact & Business Development at Sol Systems.
This onsite solar project is part of a larger $35.9-million expansion and upgrade of UCSD facilities funded by a low-interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and slated for completion in 2027. Together, the forthcoming energy upgrades — which include more efficient combined heat and power units at UCSD’s northeast plant as well as onsite production at the facility’s southwest plant — are expected to supply about 75% of UCSD treatment plants’ electricity needs.
News item from Onyx Renewables
