Breaking Down Berkeley Lab’s Annual Utility-Scale Solar Report – Part 1 Berkeley Lab’s annual Utility-Scale Solar Report has become one of the industry’s go-to resources for tracking the evolution of large-scale solar (and storage) deployment across the United States. The 2024 Edition analyzes ground-mounted PV projects above 5 MW ac, offering… Continue reading “Breaking Down Berkeley Lab’s Annual Utility-Scale Solar Report – Part 1”
Inside AC Block Architecture: A Technical Walkthrough of Utility-Scale BESS Design The rapid deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) demands a comprehensive understanding of system architecture, electrical engineering principles, and operational considerations. In this excerpt from the Foundations of BESS course, industry expert Drew Lebowitz examines the critical design… Continue reading “Inside AC Block Architecture: A Technical Walkthrough of Utility-Scale BESS Design”
The Science Behind Battery Fires: Thermal Runaway Explained What happens when a battery cell reaches its ignition temperature and triggers an unstoppable chain reaction? In this segment from the Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems course, instructor Drew Lebowitz explains the phenomenon of thermal runaway in battery systems… Continue reading “The Science Behind Battery Fires: Thermal Runaway Explained”
Grid Operators Get Strategic: How Some Utilities Are Tackling Interconnection Queue Bottlenecks As the U.S. power grid faces mounting pressure to integrate new generation resources, transmission operators are getting creative with solutions to streamline their overwhelmed interconnection queues. Two major grid operators—California ISO (CAISO) and PJM —are leading the charge with innovative… Continue reading “Grid Operators Get Strategic: How Some Utilities Are Tackling Interconnection Queue Bottlenecks”
New Course Announcement: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems The clean energy transition is accelerating, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming more and more central to this transformation. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new course: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems. Read on to learn… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems”
How Does a Utility-Scale Solar Project Move from Concept to Fully Operational? The development cycle of a utility-scale solar project demands precise orchestration across multiple phases and stakeholders. From initial site acquisition through interconnection studies, Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) negotiations, and ultimately construction, each stage builds upon the last in a carefully… Continue reading “How Does a Utility-Scale Solar Project Move from Concept to Fully Operational?”
Types of Transmission Line Structures and Their Components The United States power grid is made up of more than half a million miles of transmission lines, delivering power to more than 160 million customers, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Understanding the basics of transmission systems is… Continue reading “Types of Transmission Line Structures and Their Components”
Going Outside the Queue | Speeding Up Interconnection of Generation & Storage to Transmission We all know that utility-scale solar and storage is building momentum, yet the process of interconnecting new renewable power sources remains a substantial bottleneck in the clean energy transition. In this quick video, HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor unpacks recent developments… Continue reading “Going Outside the Queue | Speeding Up Interconnection of Generation & Storage to Transmission”
Key Players in Transmission Interconnection: Understanding FERC, NERC, and ISOs/RTOs From 2000 to 2010 the U.S. power grid saw a steady but modest flow of new transmission interconnection requests, averaging between 500 to 1,000 annually. Fast forward to today, and the picture has dramatically changed. With the clean energy boom… Continue reading “Key Players in Transmission Interconnection: Understanding FERC, NERC, and ISOs/RTOs”
NERC PRC-024-3: Understanding “Ride Through” Capability and “No Trip Zones” “Ride through” capability in power systems has become increasingly important in recent years, because it contributes to maintaining grid stability during system disturbances. In this video excerpt from the new Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission course, HeatSpring instructor… Continue reading “NERC PRC-024-3: Understanding “Ride Through” Capability and “No Trip Zones””
New Course Announcement: Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission It seems like every time news outlets report on new utility-scale solar projects coming online, the megawatt (MW) capacity keeps getting bigger. With an increasing number of high-capacity solar projects in development, many industry professionals are finding themselves in need… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission”
“Electric Utility Distribution Equipment” course now free for members Very few solar people really understand the interconnection process from the utility side – so starting today, for a limited time, “Electric Utility Distribution Equipment” is free for HeatSpring members. Tim Taylor teaches the course. He’s published a suite of… Continue reading ““Electric Utility Distribution Equipment” course now free for members”
2023 Energy Storage Code Course – Now Free for HeatSpring Members We need more professionals designing and installing energy storage systems safely. So starting today, for a limited time, 2023 NFPA 855 & Fire Codes for Energy Storage Systems is free for HeatSpring members. Ryan and the Mayfield Renewables team teach… Continue reading “2023 Energy Storage Code Course – Now Free for HeatSpring Members”
FERC Orders 1920 and 1977 – What’s the Bottom Line? The recent buzz in the electric transmission industry, which is a key part of utility-scale renewables growth, is the May 13th issuing of FERC Order 1920 and FERC Order 1977 . FERC Order 1920 FERC Order 1920, “Building for the… Continue reading “FERC Orders 1920 and 1977 – What’s the Bottom Line?”
Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor Tim Taylor is a HeatSpring instructor who focuses on utility transmission and distribution systems, and the interconnection of renewables to those systems. We recently asked Tim a few questions about two new courses that he has been developing. Tim’s new… Continue reading “Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor”
A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States The electricity industry in the United States has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, largely driven by a series of legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at promoting competition, efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy resources. In this… Continue reading “A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States”
Mastering Construction Drawings in Utility-Scale Solar Projects The large scale solar industry is growing at an incredibly rapid rate, and it’s one of the most dynamic and exciting sectors to be a part of right now. However – even with all the growth, the fundamental skills are… Continue reading “Mastering Construction Drawings in Utility-Scale Solar Projects”
Voltage Control Using Inverter Reactive Power Control This is the fifth of five articles in the series “Reactive Power in Utility-Scale Solar PV Applications.” In the previous four posts in this series, we discussed what reactive power is and where it comes from, its impact on T&D… Continue reading “Voltage Control Using Inverter Reactive Power Control”
Active Power Priority vs. Reactive Power Priority This is the fourth of five articles in the series “Reactive Power in Utility-Scale Solar PV Applications.” Here’s the last article – “Inverter-Based Resources Reactive Power Capabilities” – in case you need to catch up. In the earlier articles in this series,… Continue reading “Active Power Priority vs. Reactive Power Priority”
Inverter-Based Resources Reactive Power Capabilities This is the third of five articles in the series “Reactive Power in Utility-Scale Solar PV Applications.” Here’s the last article – “Reactive Power and Transmission & Distribution Operations” – in case you need to catch up. Inverters are a… Continue reading “Inverter-Based Resources Reactive Power Capabilities”