OCI Energy and Sabanci Renewables have announced their first partnership through the sale of Project Pepper, a utility-scale solar power project located in McLennan County, Texas. This transaction marks the beginning of a new collaboration between the two companies, with the potential for further joint efforts in the future. Project Pepper was fully developed by OCI Energy, which managed every stage of the project—from site acquisition and permitting to pre-construction studies and grid interconnection.
The project is strategically located to support rising energy demand in the region by delivering affordable and reliable power. With this acquisition, Sabanci Renewables will take over responsibility for financing, constructing, owning, and operating the facility. Project Pepper is expected to become commercially operational by the third quarter of 2027.
Sabah Bayatli, President of OCI Energy, stated, “We are proud to bring Project Pepper to this major milestone. This transaction is a testament to the strength of our development platform, our team’s deep market expertise, and our ability to advance impactful projects that support energy transition goals across Texas and the U.S. We look forward to seeing Project Pepper become a contributor to the clean energy economy under Sabanci’s stewardship.”
Tolga Kaan Doğancıoğlu, CEO of Sabanci Climate Technologies, mentioned, “We’re pleased to partner with OCI Energy on Project Pepper — a well-executed project that aligns perfectly with our growth strategy in the U.S. This collaboration reflects our confidence in the U.S. energy market and our commitment to scaling a resilient power portfolio. With this latest addition, we now hold 660 MWdc of solar capacity either operational or under construction, building toward our long-term goal of a 3,000 MWdc renewable portfolio by 2030.”
This project highlights OCI Energy’s strength in utility-scale solar and battery energy storage development. The company currently has more than 5 GWac of projects in its development pipeline across the United States. Legal support for the transaction was provided by Sidley Austin LLP for OCI Energy and Troutman Pepper Locke LLP for Sabanci Renewables. The agreement represents a significant step for both companies, combining OCI’s development expertise with Sabanci’s long-term investment and operational capabilities to support the growing clean energy needs of Texas.
