US critical minerals company developing the first commercial-scale, solar-powered cobalt metal and sulphate processing facility in the US, EVelution Energy, has started construction of a 28 MW solar facility that will power its planned cobalt processing operations in Yuma County, Arizona.

The build started with the installation of the first permanent steel mounting piles across the project's 150-acre site, marking the start of physical construction of the solar facility.

The piles will support the solar panels that will power the processing facility once construction is complete.

Construction of the full solar array is expected to continue through the remainder of this year and into 2027, with commissioning of the cobalt processing plant anticipated during 2029.

EVelution Energy says the solar facility is a key part of the company's strategy to build a resilient domestic critical minerals supply chain support by American industry, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Installation was carried out under a binding construction contract using engineering drawings prepared and approved by Aquila Energy, the project's Solar EPC contractor, with engineering and project integration support from M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation.

Once complete, the solar facility will generate enough electricity to power the cobalt processing facility entirely from renewable energy, with excess electricity planned to be store in on-site battery systems or supplied to the local electricity grid.

The cobalt processing facility is planned to process 24 000 t/y of cobalt hydroxide feedstock for production of 20 000 t/y of battery-grade cobalt sulphate containing about 4 000 t of cobalt. The facility will also produce up to 3 000 t/y of alloy-grade cobalt metal.

The plant's output is expected to supply about 40% of the US' projected cobalt demand, supporting American aerospace, defence, electric vehicle battery and advanced manufacturing industries.

EVelution Energy says the $450-million cobalt processing facility will generate about $1.2-billion in yearly economic activity across Arizona and create more than 6 200 direct, indirect and induced jobs over its lifetime.