Buckeye, Arizona — Renewable energy developer D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) has officially started construction on the Catclaw Solar and Storage project, a major clean energy facility in Buckeye, Arizona. The project, which includes 205 megawatts (MWac) of solar capacity paired with 1,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, recently reached its financial notice to proceed (FNTP) milestone, signifying the start of full-scale development.

Originally developed by Avantus and acquired by DESRI in 2024, the Catclaw project aims to deliver reliable, sustainable energy to meet Arizona’s growing power demands. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes annually.

At a groundbreaking ceremony held on April 29, 2025, DESRI was joined by representatives from APS, the City of Buckeye, and other stakeholders to mark the occasion.

“The DESRI team is thrilled that Catclaw has begun construction and will commence operations in 2026,” said Bob Schoenherr, Chief Strategy Officer of DESRI. “DESRI currently owns 131 MWac of operating renewable energy assets and 160 MWac of solar assets under construction in Arizona; Catclaw is our first project with Arizona Public Service (APS). Given skyrocketing demand for new energy and capacity resources across the state, our team is happy to pair reliable and cost-effective resources with this need. We appreciate Avantus’s work on the Project’s development and look forward to an efficient build.”

Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus, emphasized the collaboration behind the milestone: “Catclaw will help power Arizona’s growing energy needs with clean, reliable electricity especially during times of peak demand. This milestone is the result of strong collaboration with the City of Buckeye, local partners, DESRI, and APS, and builds on the groundwork Avantus has laid to accelerate clean energy in the region. Together, we’re creating local jobs and strengthening the grid with affordable, resilient energy for Arizona communities.”

Derek Seaman, Director of Resource Acquisition at APS, also highlighted the project’s alignment with the utility’s long-term energy strategy. “APS has a track record of providing top tier, reliable service to Arizona homes and businesses, and we thoughtfully invest in and secure diverse resources that can help us continue to deliver the energy our customers count on. The Catclaw Solar and Storage project will provide our customers with the benefits of reliable, cost-competitive electricity sourced directly from clean energy technologies.”

Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn praised the city’s coordination with DESRI: “Buckeye’s collaboration with the DESRI team was unprecedented. We worked together to design this project so it seamlessly integrated with the surrounding environment, while ensuring Buckeye and the entire West Valley remain sustainable.”

To finance the project, DESRI assembled a broad team of financial backers. BNP Paribas and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (NORD/LB) served as Coordinating Lead Arrangers, with support from Korea Development Bank, Bank of China, and Westpac as Joint Lead Arrangers. Comerica Bank joined as Mandated Lead Arranger, Flagstar Bank as Senior Managing Agent, and Crédit Industriel et Commercial as a Participant. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will act as the Administrative Agent.

On the technical side, RES was appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the solar portion, with EPC Services Company handling high-voltage EPC work. Tesla will supply the battery storage technology, and Invenergy Services will manage ongoing operations and maintenance once the project is live.

With its scale and advanced storage capabilities, the Catclaw Solar and Storage facility is positioned to be a key contributor to Arizona’s clean energy future, strengthening grid resilience while creating local economic opportunities.

Originally reported by S.S. Dev in Solar Quarter.