Seeing Heat: What Can We Learn Using Thermal Imaging on Solar Sites? Thermography has become an essential diagnostic tool in solar PV operations and maintenance, providing technicians with a glimpse into problems often invisible to the naked eye. This powerful inspection method is so effective at revealing critical electrical issues that it’s… Continue reading “Seeing Heat: What Can We Learn Using Thermal Imaging on Solar Sites?”
Setting the Standard: Transforming O&M into a Professional Career Path The new SEIA 301 Standard: Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Standard – Technician Training represents a significant milestone in creating clear career pathways for both aspiring and established technicians. This consensus-built training framework not only enhances the reliability… Continue reading “Setting the Standard: Transforming O&M into a Professional Career Path”
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your HAZWOPER Training Working with hazardous materials requires specialized knowledge and skills to ensure safety on the job and for the surrounding environment. If you work on jobsites where hazardous materials may be present, HAZWOPER training is likely required for your position. Let’s… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your HAZWOPER Training”
The Story Behind Creating the New PV + BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician Training Standard In any rapidly growing industry, standardization is crucial to reliability, consistency, and long-term success. For years, operations and maintenance (O&M) practices in the solar and storage industries lacked uniformity, but solar + storage O&M has reached a critical inflection point. … Continue reading “The Story Behind Creating the New PV + BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician Training Standard”
How To Navigate the NFPA 70B | Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance Have you ever flipped through an unfamiliar technical standard and felt a bit lost in all the details? Many of us have been there. These comprehensive standards are absolutely essential for electrical safety and equipment reliability, but let’s be honest… Continue reading “How To Navigate the NFPA 70B | Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance”
New Course: Solar PV and BESS Operations & Maintenance Tech 1 Training The solar industry has taken a big step forward with the introduction of its first standardized training program for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) technicians. Until now, O&M training has been all over the map – companies were doing their own… Continue reading “New Course: Solar PV and BESS Operations & Maintenance Tech 1 Training”
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”
Exciting New Partnership: HeatSpring and OSHA Education Center Join Forces to Offer OSHA Training for Clean Energy Professionals We’re pumped about a new partnership between HeatSpring and the OSHA Education Center that brings OSHA training to clean energy professionals. Through this partnership, OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training courses are available in English and Spanish on HeatSpring. Why… Continue reading “Exciting New Partnership: HeatSpring and OSHA Education Center Join Forces to Offer OSHA Training for Clean Energy Professionals”
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”
The 9 Key Elements of an Electrical Maintenance Program When it comes to electrical safety and reliability on our solar and storage sites, having a well-structured maintenance program is more than just good practice—it’s required by the new National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70B: Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.… Continue reading “The 9 Key Elements of an Electrical Maintenance Program”
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”
Understanding the Organizations Working in Transmission Interconnecting solar and storage projects at the transmission level is far more complex than interconnection at a smaller scale, and the challenge is growing. According to the Department of Energy’s 2024 Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, while the early 2000s saw around… Continue reading “Understanding the Organizations Working in Transmission”
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”
What is an Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP)? Electrical maintenance programs (EMPs) are critical for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of electrical systems in any facility, including our solar and storage sites. In this quick and informative breakdown, HeatSpring instructor Alex Jahp explores the fundamental requirements of… Continue reading “What is an Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP)?”
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”
Why Adopt NFPA 70B: A Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance? Maintaining electrical equipment on our solar and storage sites is about maximizing uptime while keeping maintenance costs down, ultimately optimizing the entire lifecycle of our projects. A well-structured Electrical Maintenance Program (EMP) based on NFPA 70B offers a systematic approach… Continue reading “Why Adopt NFPA 70B: A Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance?”
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”
Utility-Scale Solar PPA Price Trends - Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 3 Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) prices and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) serve as critical indicators of utility-scale solar’s market progression. Drawing from Berkeley Lab’s “Utility-Scale Solar, 2024 Edition” report, HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor explores the relationship between these metrics, examining… Continue reading “Utility-Scale Solar PPA Price Trends - Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 3”