U.S. Developers re-use coal-fired infrastructure for new power. Multiple developers have successfully incorporated infrastructure from retired coal-fired power plants into new projects, and the facilities continue providing sites for new solar, battery and nuclear power projects. Released Friday, September 18, 2026 Reports related to this article: Summary. Developers have implemented solar and battery facilities at retired coal-fired plants to take advantage of existing infrastructure and grid connections. Existing connections. U.S. coal-fired power is getting a bit of a life extension in a very supportive second Trump administration, with eased regulatory and emissions policies and a few "stay open" orders at coal-fired plants slated for retirement. While some of those plants may, in fact, stay open longer, that didn't stop a bevy of U.S. coal-fired plant retirements in years past. Some plant developers have made the most of this existing, dormant infrastructure by placing solar or battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the sites. In addition, nuclear power is now entering the picture. Successful projects. Solar and BESS installations at former coal-fired sites gained ground a few years ago as the technologies became less expensive and more accessible, and some of these projects already have been completed. One successful example comes from Vistra Energy, which built a 44-megawatt (MW) and 2-MW solar array at the retired Coffeen coal-fired power station in Coffeen, Illinois, which stopped operating in 2019. As is typical, the renewable energy replaces only a fraction of the retired capacity, which was more than 1,000 MW. However, the solar and BESS facilities were able to take advantage of the site's transmission connection to the MISO grid, marking a successful repurposing of the retired infrastructure. Readers can access details of the project, including construction timelines, key contact details, and equipment and service needs, by clicking here. An even larger project was completed just prior to that at the site of the retired San Juan Generating Station, where D.E. Shaw Renewables Incorporated (DESRI) completed a 200-MW solar facility and a 100-MW/400-megawatt-hour (MWh) BESS unit in 2024. Again, the coal-fired plant's infrastructure was a key part of the new facility's grid connection. DESRI is moving forward with other solar and BESS projects in the immediate San Juan area, including the Foxtail Flats development, which would include 170 MW of solar power and 80 MW/320 MWh of BESS capacity, as well as the Four Mile Mesa facility with even more solar and BESS capacity. AES Indiana successfully added BESS and solar capacity in two separate projects at the Petersburg Generation Station, which differs from the other plants in that only two of the four coal-fired units have been retired, with units 3 and 4 being converted to burn natural gas, which is expected to take effect later this year. Ongoing & future projects. Other companies continue taking advantage of existing coal-related infrastructure. Duke Energy is adding 167 MW of new BESS capacity at the retired Allen Steam Station in Belmont, North Carolina. The project is expected to wrap up next year. Similarly to the AES, two coal-fired units have been converted to natural gas at the Naughton Power Station in Kemmerer, Wyoming. TerraPower is building its 345-MW Natrium advanced nuclear reactor near the site to leverage existing facility infrastructure. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for the reactor in March this year, and work is expected to be well underway next year, putting the reactor on track for completion by around 2031. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also has commissioned studies related to potential small modular reactor (SMR) construction at coal sites, but its SMR project that is furthest along, Clinch River, doesn't fit this category. Key Takeaways * Previous projects have successfully leveraged retired coal-fired infrastructure for power from new solar and BESS facilities. * Existing transmission infrastructure and grid connections provide can cut costs and permitting times for new forms of energy. About Industrial Info Resources Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD). Want more IIR news intelligence? Make Industrial Info Resources, Inc. a Preferred Source on Google to see more of Industrial Info Resources, Inc. when you search. Ask Industrial Info Resources, Inc.. Submit a question and one of its experts will be happy to assist you. By submitting this form, you give Industrial Info permission to contact you by email in response to your inquiry. Forecasts & analytical solutions. Where global project and asset data meets advanced analytics for smarter market sizing and forecasting. PECWeb Global Market Intelligence platform. Identify opportunities, anticipate change, and execute with confidence. 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10 major solar projects advance in 2026 with gw-scale capacity, battery storage and $695 Million financing. August 21, 2026 Global solar investment continues to accelerate in 2026 as developers advance utility-scale photovoltaic, battery-storage and hybrid renewable projects across the United States, Australia, Egypt, India and Paraguay. The latest projects range from 200 MW to 1 GW of solar capacity, while several incorporate large battery systems and dedicated transmission infrastructure. Major financial commitments include US$695 million for Recurrent Energy's Cobalt Solar project, approximately US$764 million in total project cost for Egypt's West Minya development, US$560 million for the West Minya EPC contract and US$195 million in financing for AMPIN Energy Transition's Indian hybrid renewable project. Discover more Renewables solar energy Energy & Utilities Sol Systems Acquires 200 MW Lumberton Solar Project in Texas Sol Systems acquired the 200 MWac Lumberton Solar Project in Hardin County, Texas, from DESRI on August 21, 2026. The utility-scale project already has a long-term power purchase agreement and will now be advanced toward construction and long-term operation by Sol Systems. The acquisition price and total project investment were not disclosed. ATOME Advances 300 MWp Solar Project in Paraguay ATOME secured financial and technical support on August 20, 2026 for a feasibility study covering a proposed 300 MWp solar project near its green-fertilizer facility in Villeta, Paraguay. The project remains at the feasibility stage and could include battery storage. Development is also dependent on further feasibility work and progress toward a power purchase agreement. Discover more Engineering & Technology If developed, the project could provide renewable electricity for ATOME's industrial operations. EDF Plans 400 MW Solar and 1,600 MWh Battery Project in Nevada EDF power solutions North America signed two 25-year PPAs with NV Energy for the Winston Energy Project in Lyon County, Nevada. The development combines 400 MWac of solar capacity with a 400 MW/1,600 MWh battery energy storage system, providing four hours of storage at the battery's 400 MW power rating. Electricity deliveries are expected to begin in October 2029. The project is associated with the planned Greenlink North transmission infrastructure. Construction is expected to employ more than 400 workers at peak, while the project could generate approximately US$100 million in local tax revenue during its operating life. Windlab Develops 500 MW Solar-Storage Project in Queensland Windlab's proposed Bungaban Solar Project near Wandoan in Queensland's Western Downs region will provide 500 MW of solar capacity combined with battery storage. Developed alongside Squadron Energy, the project is planned across a 1,531.9-hectare site, with construction targeted for 2028. Transmission infrastructure will connect the solar and battery facilities to Powerlink's proposed Warranna substation. Final battery capacity and total investment have not been disclosed. Edify Energy Advances 360 MWp Solar and 1,200 MWh Storage Edify Energy awarded the EPC contract for its Ganymirra and Majors Creek projects in North Queensland in August 2026. Together, the projects will deliver 360 MWp of solar capacity and a 300 MW/1,200 MWh battery system. DT Infrastructure will handle engineering, procurement and construction, including a new substation and transmission-connection infrastructure. Approximately 400 jobs are expected during peak construction. Early engineering and pre-construction work is underway, with major construction scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2026. Recurrent Energy Secures $695 Million for 330 MW Cobalt Solar Recurrent Energy secured US$695 million in project and tax-equity financing for the 330 MW Cobalt Solar Project in Riverside County, California. The financing comprises approximately US$484 million in debt and US$211 million in tax equity. Wells Fargo provided the tax-equity investment, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Nord/LB led the debt financing. The fully permitted project is already under construction, with commercial operation expected by the end of 2027. Cobalt Solar is expected to generate enough electricity to serve approximately 82,000 homes annually and deliver around US$14 million in property-tax revenue to Riverside County. Blattner Energy is the EPC provider. Egypt's 1 GW West Minya Solar Project Adds 600 MWh Battery Egypt's West Minya project combines a 1 GW solar photovoltaic plant with 600 MWh of battery storage, making it one of the largest solar-plus-storage developments in the group. Nefer Menya for Renewable Energy, owned by Infinity Power Holding and HAU Energy, is the project company. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy and Hassan Allam Construction are delivering the project through a 50:50 EPC joint venture under a contract worth approximately US$560 million. Overall project cost is estimated at approximately US$764 million, with potential EBRD senior debt of up to US$170 million. Grid infrastructure includes an approximately 36-kilometer, 220 kV overhead transmission line. The development is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1.2 million tonnes annually and employ approximately 5,000 workers during construction. AMPIN Secures $195 Million for 100 MW Hybrid Project in India AMPIN Energy Transition achieved financial closure for a 100 MW PPA-backed hybrid renewable-energy project in Andhra Pradesh in August 2026. The project combines wind, solar and battery storage and secured US$195 million in financing from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Rabobank. The 100 MW figure represents contracted PPA capacity rather than standalone solar capacity, with the individual wind, solar and battery capacities not disclosed. KPI Green Energy Advances 200 MW Rajasthan Solar Project KPI Green Energy awarded Advait Greenergy an EPC contract worth approximately ₹116 crore for a 200 MW solar project in Rajasthan. The project will use high-speed-axis-tracker technology, with Advait Greenergy responsible for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. The ₹116 crore figure represents the EPC contract value, rather than the project's total investment. NLC India Renewables Wins 900 MW Gujarat Solar Project NLC India Renewables, a wholly owned subsidiary of NLC India, received a Letter of Intent from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited in July 2026 to develop a 900 MW solar power project in Gujarat. The utility-scale development was awarded through a tariff-based competitive bidding process, with GUVNL serving as the electricity procurer. The latest confirmed status is awarded capacity under the Letter of Intent. Investment, tariff, construction schedule and expected completion date have not been disclosed. Solar Investment Shifts Toward Large-Scale Storage The latest projects demonstrate how utility-scale solar development is increasingly converging with battery storage, transmission investment and long-term power contracts. Among the largest storage projects, Winston Energy combines 400 MW of solar with 400 MW/1,600 MWh of batteries, Ganymirra and Majors Creek combine 360 MWp with 300 MW/1,200 MWh, while West Minya integrates 1 GW of solar with 600 MWh of storage. The financial scale is also significant. Cobalt Solar has secured US$695 million, West Minya carries an estimated US$764 million project cost, its EPC contract is worth US$560 million, and AMPIN has secured US$195 million. These projects show that the 2026 solar investment cycle is moving beyond standalone photovoltaic capacity toward integrated renewable infrastructure combining solar generation, batteries, transmission, financing and long-term electricity offtake. SHAFANA FAZAL

New-York based renewable energy company Desri developing storage project on Little Blue Run site in Greene Township. (Credit and Caption for Photo: Workers from Mascaro Construction move dirt to cover Little Blue Run, which covers 955 acres in Beaver County and Hancock County, W.Va., on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Lawrenceville, W.Va. (Andrew Rush, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News Discover more Local sports coverage Local news updates Radio jingle creation (Beaver County, PA) Desri, which is a renewable energy company based in New York, is now developing a one-gigawatt battery storage project on the former Little Blue Run site, which is located in Greene Township. The Beaver County site had to shut down in 2012 because its water was contaminated. The project run by Desri is called Little Blue Project.