SOLAR POWER IN NEW MEXICO

Rancho Viejo solar + storage project

in development

AES’ Rancho Viejo Solar project is a proposed solar facility in Santa Fe County that will incorporate the most advanced solar energy and battery energy storage technologies and is carefully designed to minimize impact on the rural landscapes in the area. Rancho Viejo Solar directly supports New Mexico’s clean energy goal of 50% renewable by 2030, and 100% renewable by 2045.

Rows of solar panels in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky.
A logo featuring a grey lightning bolt inside a circular gradient ring transitioning from purple to blue to green.
96 MW planned solar power plus 48 MW, four-hour duration, containerized lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS)
Illustration of a gray house with a blue line extending from its door to a horizontal line, transitioning from blue to green.
Enough clean energy to power 37K homes annually
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Located in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

Our clean energy commitment

AES’ Rancho Viejo project is a proposed solar plus battery storage project in New Mexico. We are committed to responsible clean energy development that creates long-term value and positive impact for both the environment and local communities. 

A person wearing a gray shirt with an AES logo, jeans, and boots walks along a dirt path beside rows of solar panels. Another person in the background is wearing a hard hat and looking at a device.

Economic and environmental benefits

We believe in being a good neighbor, ensuring responsible clean energy development that benefits both the environment and local communities without burdening existing infrastructure.

268K MWh

 of carbon-free electricity generated each year, improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions

$10 Million

in local tax revenue expected to be generated for the community and county

200+ Local jobs

expected to be created during construction

Project details

 

  • Sited on approximately 680 acres of privately owned, fenced land
  • 35-year project life span with AES as the long-term owner and operator of the facility
  • Feeds into the Public Service of New Mexico (PNM) grid, providing power to PNM customers
  • To be set back a minimum of 1,000 ft from any adjacent property boundary, nearly 2,000 ft from the nearest residence in

    San Marcos and 1.3 miles from the nearest residence in El Dorado; the BESS installation will be located approximately

    1.5 miles from the closest residence

A detailed site plan of a solar farm layout in a desert area, showing multiple rectangular sections labeled with codes like TX 12.6, TX 14.8, and more. The plan includes roads, drainage areas, and labeled zones with specific functions. A compass rose indicates north, and the surrounding terrain is marked with various paths and boundaries.

Visual simulation and project specs

See the project:
Photo-realistic simulations provide a visual rendering of the before-and-after conditions of the planned project.
We have updated the visual simulations to match our new design plans. 
Download visual simulations -->

 

Current proposed equipment specs:
PV Modules: Make: BYD MLTK-36 550W
Inverter: Make: GPTech PV3MWD
Racking: Make: ATI DuraTrack
Battery Module: Module: SDE E5S
Battery Container: Make: CEN 40’ ISO
Battery Inverter: Make: GPTECH 3MWD3-V730

Desert landscape view from Camerada Road looking west, featuring sparse vegetation including bushes and cacti under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Clean energy benefits

local communities

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Long-term tax revenue to local communities and school districts

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Job creation during construction and operation

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Local economic stimulus during construction

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Improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions

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Social impact funding to area community organizations and non-profits

Partnering with communities for the future of energy

  • Building New Mexico’s clean energy workforce with Santa Fe YouthWorks

     

    AES has partnered with Santa Fe-based nonprofit, YouthWorks, and donated funds that will allow 10 students to attend solar installation training courses to prepare them for the PV Associates exam and a career in the renewable energy industry.

     

  • Training students for a future in solar with Solar Energy International
     

    AES has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI), a nationally leading solar training and educational non-profit, to provide solar workforce development training in New Mexico. As part of that effort, AES has created an AES-funded scholarship, which provides financial assistance to 15 New Mexico residents to cover solar education tuition fees.

     

  • Accelerating renewable energy in tribal communities
     

    In our continuing effort to advance renewable energy initiatives and create new economic opportunities on tribal lands, AES, along with the GRID Alternatives Tribal Program, have teamed up with the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico to install a rooftop solar system on the Pueblo’s Tamaya Wellness Center.

Five men stand in a row in front of a Santa Fe fire department emblem on a wall. One man holds a plaque. They are dressed in a mix of casual and uniform attire. An American flag and a digital screen displaying information are visible in the background.
Three workers in safety gear and yellow vests install solar panels on a metal structure in a solar farm. One worker is kneeling, while the others stand on either side, all focusing on securing the panels.

Sustainability Resources

Sustainability best practices

At AES, safety is our highest priority, and we’ve focused on improving lives for more than 40 years. As a leading innovator in energy solutions, sustainability is core to both our strategy and our culture. We are committed to responsible land use and incorporating sustainable best practices into the entire project lifecycle, contributing to building a domestic circular renewables economy and reducing foreign dependence.

Environmental and technical studies

We conduct a series of studies that ensure our projects are thoughtfully and responsibly designed.

  • Aquatic Resources Inventory Report: Update completed July 2024
  • Biological Survey Report: Update completed July 2024
  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: Completed May 2022
  • Cultural Resources Pedestrian Survey Report: Completed July 2022
  • Hydrologic and Hydraulic Study: October 2022
  • Site Thresholds Analysis: October 2022
  • Geotechnical Investigation: Revised completed April 2024
  • Noise Technical Report Rancho Viejo Solar Project, July 2024
  • Environmental Impact Report for the Rancho Viejo Solar Project, completed July 24, 2024
  • Decommissioning Plan, completed July 2024
  • Vegetation and Noxious Weed Management Plan, completed July 2024
  • Pre-Incident Plan, completed July 2024
  • First Responder Mitigation Guidelines, completed July 2024
  • Preliminary Hazard Mitigation Analysis, completed August 2024
Commitment to safety

At AES, safety comes first—for our workers, partners, contractors, and the communities we serve. As pioneers of utility-scale energy storage, we’ve operated a global fleet of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for nearly two decades.
Our BESS projects meet the latest codes and standards, including NFPA 855 and UL9540. The Rancho Viejo project will feature advanced safety systems, such as fire suppression at the battery cell level, active exhaust ventilation, and deflagration vents to mitigate gas buildup.
We are collaborating with the Santa Fe County Fire Department to ensure robust safety protocols, providing training before and throughout the project’s operation.

Contact us

We appreciate your interest in AES’ Rancho Viejo Solar Project. Please contact us using the information below.