Exus Renewables North America acquired four solar projects from ibV Energy Partners in Louisiana and Wisconsin with a combined capacity of 715 MW this transaction will allow the company to significantly expand its renewable energy generation portfolio in the United States. The assets will be developed, built, and operated by Exus in two states where the growth of data centers is increasing the demand for electricity and driving demand for new solar power capacity.
Exus expands its solar portfolio in the United States
Exus it strengthened its presence in the US market with the acquisition of four large-scale solar projects totaling approximately 715 megawatts (MW) of capacity. The facilities were acquired from ibV Energy Partners and are located in Louisiana and Wisconsin, two markets where electricity demand is increasing due to the growth of data centers.
The deal practically doubles Exus’s portfolio, explained CEO Jim Spencer, the Pittsburgh-based company will be responsible for developing, building, and operating the solar plants the company is already in talks with potential buyers of the electricity, including large hyperscale technology companies and electric utilities that supply power to data centers.
The solar projects will reach a capacity of 715 MW
The portfolio includes Maple Grove Solar 1 y 2 a two-phase development that will reach a combined capacity of 310 MW in Barron County, Wisconsin. Louisiana will host the other two projects, Bayou Teche Solar located in the parish of St. Mary, it will have 125 MW, while Bayou Chicot Solar in the parish of Evangeline, it will reach 280 MW.
Together, the four facilities will contribute around 715 MW of solar energy according to the reference provided by Exus, that capacity would be sufficient to supply more than half a million homes; the financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Data centers increase the demand for electricity
The growth of data centers is reshaping electricity generation needs in the United States, National demand reached record levels in 2026, and the expansion of new digital facilities, coupled with increased electrification, is keeping supply under pressure.
This scenario increases interest in projects that can be quickly integrated into the grid, Wisconsin and Louisiana stand out for their data center growth and for demand that is outpacing available capacity in some areas. For Exus, the ability to connect solar projects within relatively competitive timeframes was one of the factors that made them more attractive.
Network connections began about five years ago
ibV Energy Partners had begun the process of securing electrical connections for the projects approximately five years ago, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) this preliminary work is especially important in a market where having advanced engineering and grid connection plans can accelerate projects’ entry into operation. Chris McKissack, CEO of ibV Energy Partners, emphasized that projects ready to begin construction and properly integrated into communities have a greater chance of being realized and achieving a higher valuation.
Exus negotiates contracts to supply energy
Exus expects to finalize power supply agreements within four to six weeks. Spencer indicated that the discussions include both large technology companies and utility companies responsible for servicing the load associated with data centers. The combination of 715 MW of solar capacity advanced electrical connections and locations with increasing energy consumption place these projects within the infrastructure expansion needed to meet new digital loads in the United States.
Source: Reuters
Photo: Shutterstock
