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IPA Supported Utility-Scale Procurements
Utility-scale renewable energy projects are large solar and wind installations occupying hundreds and sometimes even thousands of acres, substantially larger in scale than distributed generation projects on homes and businesses. By bringing more utility-scale renewable energy projects online, Illinois moves closer to a reliable, affordable, and sustainable clean energy future.
As part of administering the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) supports the development of utility-scale wind, utility-scale solar, and brownfield site photovoltaic (brownfield solar) projects through conducting competitive procurements for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from proposed projects. Under a competitive procurement event, bidders proposing projects compete primarily on the basis of lowest price to secure a REC delivery contract, with that contract providing revenue certainty underpinning the project’s development.
The IPA’s approach to support for these projects has had three phases: First, in 2010, a series of bundled (REC and energy) long-term power purchase agreements (LTPPAs) were issued to utility-scale wind and solar projects through a competitive procurement event. These LTPPAs were 20-year contracts and helped facilitate the development of new projects in Illinois and adjacent states.
Next, after the adoption of Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) in 2017, the IPA provided fixed-priced, 15-year REC delivery contracts through a series of “forward procurement” events. REC prices under those contracts are fixed across the entire delivery term, with Sellers under those contracts free to contract for the sale of energy independent from the IPA.
Beginning in 2022, the Agency’s procurement of RECs from utility-scale wind and solar projects now utilizes an Indexed REC pricing approach established by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The Indexed REC approach features a floating REC price, with REC prices changing over time based on indexes of wholesale market energy prices. Thus, Indexed REC prices rise when assumed wholesale market energy revenues are lower, but fall – potentially becoming negative – when energy prices rise.
Not sure what to look for?
Use the interactive dashboards below to explore utility-scale wind, utility-scale solar, and brownfield solar projects supported by the IPA.
Track total capacity by project type and location.
Compare progress across procurement years.
Discover how these projects advance Illinois’ renewable energy goals.
About the Data
Data shown here reflects results from the Illinois Power Agency’s utility-scale competitive procurements. Eligibility requirements for utility-scale projects to participate in the IPA’s procurements vary by resource type. New utility-scale wind and solar must be over 5 megawatts (MW). Additionally, projects must be located in Illinois (or meet a set of public interest criteria if located in an adjacent state), and fulfill project maturity requirements. The Dashboard aggregates information by procurement event, project types, and location. Data is updated as new procurement events take place and as projects reach delivery milestones.
Visit the Download Data page for more information and to download the dataset.
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Resources
External Resources
To learn about the Illinois Power Agency, please visit the IPA website.
To learn about the IPA’s solar incentive programs, please visit the Illinois Shines website or the Illinois Solar for All website.
To learn about the IPA’s utility-scale competitive procurements, please visit the Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Projects page on the IPA website.
To learn about the IPA's Energy Workforce Equity Portal please visit Energy Equity Illinois.