The Types of Drawings Used on Utility-Scale Solar Sites On every jobsite, clear communication through construction drawings forms the foundation of successful project execution. Utility-scale solar is no exception. In fact, the sheer scale of these projects, combined with the numerous entities involved, adds significant complexity to the process.… Continue reading “The Types of Drawings Used on Utility-Scale Solar Sites”
1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Utility-Scale Solar Design Overview The utility-scale solar sector experienced explosive growth in 2024, outpacing both commercial and residential installations in yearly capacity additions. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) Solar Market Insight Report 2024 Year in Review, the utility-scale segment installed a… Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Utility-Scale Solar Design Overview”
How to Become a “Qualified Person” in Electrical Work If you work in the electrical field, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the term qualified person in safety standards and workplace requirements. But what does this designation actually entail, and how does one earn it? Both NFPA 70B (Standard for Electrical Equipment… Continue reading “How to Become a “Qualified Person” in Electrical Work”
What’s the Difference Between an Inverter That’s Grid-Following Versus Grid- Forming? It feels like a day doesn’t go by without energy storage in the headlines. These systems are experiencing unprecedented adoption across residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. As storage continues to become increasingly critical to the clean energy transition, design professionals… Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between an Inverter That’s Grid-Following Versus Grid- Forming?”
New Course Announcement: Design Considerations for Energy Storage Systems As grid outages increase nationwide and demand charges squeeze commercial budgets, energy storage expertise has never been more valuable. This skill gap is especially critical now that SEIA has set an ambitious industry target of 700 gigawatt-hours of installed storage… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Design Considerations for Energy Storage Systems”
Understanding Height and Clearance: Critical Design Parameters for Utility-Scale Solar Racking Understanding the intricacies of utility-scale solar racking design is crucial for successful project implementation. One of the most fundamental aspects is the careful consideration of minimum clearance and maximum height parameters. These specifications play a vital role in both fixed-tilt… Continue reading “Understanding Height and Clearance: Critical Design Parameters for Utility-Scale Solar Racking”
New Course: 3-Hour Energy Storage Building and Fire Codes with Sean White and Bill Brooks Navigate the complex world of energy storage codes with industry veterans Bill Brooks and Sean White in the new 3-Hour Energy Storage Building and Fire Codes course. This engaging class cuts through the complexity of the 2024 International Code Council… Continue reading “New Course: 3-Hour Energy Storage Building and Fire Codes with Sean White and Bill Brooks”
Navigating Wetlands and Their Impact on Utility-Scale Solar Design In an era where utility-scale solar development is rapidly expanding across the United States, understanding and protecting wetlands has become increasingly critical for project success. As wetlands now cover less than 6% of the lower 48 states – half of… Continue reading “Navigating Wetlands and Their Impact on Utility-Scale Solar Design”
The Rise of Bifacial Modules and Their Considerations in Utility-Scale Design Bifacial solar modules have become the de facto choice for utility-scale PV ground mount projects in recent years. Unlike traditional modules, they capture light on both sides, offering production gains of 5-25% through their transparent back sheet design. While this… Continue reading “The Rise of Bifacial Modules and Their Considerations in Utility-Scale Design”
1 Free NABCEP CEU – New Course: An Overview of Microgrid Feasibility Studies The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has set an ambitious target: 700 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of installed battery capacity across all U.S. market segments by 2030. This goal, outlined in SEIA’s Vision for American Energy Storage, would require approximately 10 million… Continue reading “1 Free NABCEP CEU – New Course: An Overview of Microgrid Feasibility Studies “
A Look at a Utility-Scale Solar Site Plan Understanding how to analyze and plan utility-scale solar sites has become increasingly critical, with over 195 GWdc of utility-scale solar projected to be added to the U.S. power grid between 2024-2029 (Source: SEIA Solar Market Insight Report Q4 2024). In… Continue reading “A Look at a Utility-Scale Solar Site Plan”
The Unsung Heroes of Utility-Scale Solar: Field Engineers I’ll never forget my first job in the large scale solar industry as a Field Engineer in the small town of Hemet, California – supporting the construction of a 1MW fixed tilt system. I’d just stepped onto the site—dust swirling… Continue reading “The Unsung Heroes of Utility-Scale Solar: Field Engineers”
New Course Announcement: NFPA 70B: A New Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance If you work with solar PV or energy storage assets, you’ve probably considered these questions: How do we keep everything running smoothly while managing maintenance costs? When should we perform maintenance? What exactly needs to be checked? How do we… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: NFPA 70B: A New Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance”
Announcing Comprehensive Utility-Scale Solar Engineering Training The utility-scale solar sector is booming – solar now represents 64% of all new electricity-generating capacity in the US, with the utility-scale segment installing a record 6.6 GWdc in Q3 2024 alone, up 44% from the previous year (Source: SEIA… Continue reading “Announcing Comprehensive Utility-Scale Solar Engineering Training”
Utility-Scale Solar CapEx Trends – Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 2 As utility-scale solar reshapes the energy landscape, understanding its evolving costs remains crucial for industry decision-makers. HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor examines Berkeley Lab’s latest “Utility-Scale Solar, 2024 Edition” report, uncovering notable trends in installed CapEx – including some findings that… Continue reading “Utility-Scale Solar CapEx Trends – Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 2”
Why Join Us for PV Associate Training at the 2025 NABCEP CE Conference The booming solar energy industry offers tons opportunities for professionals at every level. Whether you’re just starting your renewable energy career or looking to advance in the field, the NABCEP Associate is a great first step into professional solar credentialing.… Continue reading “Why Join Us for PV Associate Training at the 2025 NABCEP CE Conference”
We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers Engineers…we need you. You can spend your whole career working in solar energy and never get bored. Climate change is the biggest problem you could tackle and you’ll never have trouble finding interesting work to do. Let’s zoom out and… Continue reading “We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers”
Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries When it comes to electrical safety, understanding arc flash hazards and how to mitigate their risk is crucial, but all too often misunderstood. Many workers believe that staying outside the arc flash boundary guarantees safety, but this is a dangerous… Continue reading “Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries”
A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings The US energy storage market saw a dramatic 84% surge in installed capacity during Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, as reported in the June 2024 US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie and American Clean Power.… Continue reading “A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings”
How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site? The utility-scale solar segment installed 7.6 GWdc in Q2 2024 – a whopping 59% jump from last year, according to SEIA’s latest Solar Market Insight Report. If you’re one of the newer folks joining in the industry to help get… Continue reading “How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site?”