Onyx Renewables, a national provider and owner of localized clean energy solutions, has officially kicked off a 2.5-megawatt (MW) onsite solar project at the Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD) wastewater treatment facility in Illinois. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, bringing together Onyx Renewables, Sol Systems — the initial project developer — and Verde Solutions, the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner, to mark the beginning of this significant clean energy initiative.

The project will feature a ground-mounted solar array at UCSD’s southwest wastewater treatment plant, with construction set to begin this spring. Once completed, the system is expected to generate over 4.1 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity in its first year alone, helping to power the facility while reducing energy costs. Any surplus energy produced will be credited back to UCSD, further lowering its electricity expenses. This project is a testament to Onyx Renewables’ dedication to advancing onsite solar in the Midwest, leveraging programs like Illinois Shines that provide incentives, create well-paying jobs for Illinois residents, and make renewable energy more accessible.

Anna Toenjes, Associate Vice President of Impact & Business Development at Sol Systems, mentioned, “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. Offsite, Sol Systems will establish a scholarship in partnership with Parkland College to reflect our broader commitment to making a positive difference not only through energy projects but also by investing directly in the communities where we work.”

Kevin Cox, SVP of Origination at Onyx, stated, “This project exemplifies Onyx’s value as a partner throughout our customers’ clean energy journey. We’ve been able to tailor our approach to UCSD’s needs to ensure that the end result delivers on what matters most to our customer: cost savings and reliable clean power for Illinoisans. Our relationship doesn’t end there, either — long after construction is finished, we’ll be with UCSD every step of the way as the long-term owner and operator to deliver consistent, reliable electricity to its facility.”

Onyx Renewables will manage the entire project lifecycle, overseeing development, financing, construction, ownership, and operations. The company will provide UCSD with stable, low-cost electricity through a long-term power purchase agreement. Additionally, Onyx will handle the monetization of renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the project under the Illinois Shines REC program, enhancing the project’s economic sustainability. Sol Systems originated and began developing the project in 2022 before transferring ownership to Onyx. Verde Solutions will take charge of the system’s design, permitting, and construction as the EPC partner.

Rick Manner, Executive Director at UCSD, mentioned, “Since our founding, UCSD has sought out economical and reliable energy solutions for our facilities. We were very pleased with Sol Systems’ work to initially develop the project. Now, Onyx is a critical partner committed to building a high-quality, well-maintained solar solution that will be part of a state-of-the-art facility which will fit in with residential and park facilities as neighbors. With the Solar Power Purchase Agreement, and requiring no up-front investment from UCSD, about 85% of our southwest plant’s electric usage will be generated on site. The price for the clean power is fixed at a low rate that will allow us to see considerable savings for our facility’s budget. Our ratepayers will enjoy this benefit from the cost savings for at least the next 15 years.”

This solar project forms part of a broader $35.9 million initiative to upgrade UCSD’s facilities, funded by a low-interest loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Alongside the solar installation, the project includes the addition of more efficient combined heat and power units at UCSD’s northeast plant. These upgrades aim to supply around 75% of the district’s electricity needs once fully operational by the end of 2025. The entire facility upgrade is expected to be completed by 2027, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable and cost-effective future for UCSD.