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The new Fresno solar plant has already delivered 862 MWh while exceeding expected energy production.
ForeFront Power has brought a new solar system online at a water treatment plant in Fresno, California. The project uses Erthos’ Earth Mount Solar technology to cut construction costs and increase power density.
The system entered commercial operation in late March 2026. It has since produced 862 megawatt-hours of electricity for the City of Fresno.
The installation sits at the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Plant. It forms part of a larger renewable energy program covering three Fresno water facilities.
Erthos’ system takes a different approach to ground-mounted solar construction. Its photovoltaic modules sit directly on the ground instead of using conventional steel racking.
That design removes much of the steel procurement and installation work found in traditional solar projects. ForeFront Power also avoided costly civil upgrades at the Fresno site.
Those savings helped make the project financially viable during a period of high labor and material costs. ForeFront Power can then offer Fresno electricity at a fixed rate through a 20-year power purchase agreement.
The system also packs more generation into each acre. Erthos says its layout eliminates conventional row spacing between solar modules.
The panels can also follow terrain with slopes reaching 15 percent. That feature helped the system adapt to the site’s existing topography without requiring major changes to the land.
Performance has given the project an encouraging start. The solar array has generated energy at an average of 101 percent of its expected output.
ForeFront Power expects the broader Fresno portfolio to deliver major savings for local ratepayers. The three projects total 27 megawatts of DC capacity.
The portfolio should save more than $122 million in electricity costs through 2045. Those installations combine solar generation with smart battery storage.
Erinne Davis, a senior project manager at ForeFront Power, said the site suited Erthos’ approach. The technology helped the team avoid expensive construction work that could have stalled the project.
She said those avoided costs helped the Fresno installation move forward. They also allowed the project to offer electricity at a lower rate than the local utility.
The Fresno system also uses an autonomous robot for routine panel cleaning. Erthos maintains the array under an energy services agreement with ForeFront Power.
The ErthBot uses a dry nylon brush to clean the photovoltaic modules. Each unit can service more than 3.5 megawatts of solar capacity.
The robot operates at night when cleaning is needed. After completing its route, it returns to a charging dock for its next deployment.
That automated maintenance approach reduces the labor needed to keep a large solar array operating efficiently. It also allows cleaning crews to avoid repeated manual work across the expansive array.
Erthos will handle the robot’s operation and maintenance throughout the agreement. The companies will also track the system’s performance as it continues operating.
For Fresno, the project offers more than new renewable generation. It shows how changing the physical design of solar farms can reduce construction costs.
That approach could prove useful for other public facilities facing high construction expenses. For large energy users, lower installation costs can improve the economics of switching to solar power.
Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.
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