What is SCADA? Brit Heller More than 43 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity is planned for 2026 in the U.S., which would represent a 60% increase over the previous year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Every one of those plants runs on a SCADA system. So what is SCADA, exactly? It stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, and it’s the system that lets operators see what’s happening across an entire solar site and respond to it, remotely, in real time. In the clip below, Connor Krening, co-instructor of HeatSpring’s SCADA Communication Systems for Utility-Scale Solar course, breaks down what SCADA actually means and shares an air traffic control analogy that makes it easy to understand. Want to go deeper? The full course covers how SCADA systems are designed, configured, and applied specifically in utility-scale solar environments. As the industry grows, SCADA knowledge is becoming a baseline expectation across commissioning, O&M, and project engineering roles. Enroll your team in SCADA Communication Systems for Utility-Scale Solar! Operations & Maintenance Safety Solar Solar Design & Installation Solar miscellaneous Utility-Scale Solar Originally posted on April 28, 2026 Written by Brit Heller Director of Program Management @ HeatSpring. Brit holds two NABCEP certifications - Photovoltaic Installation Professional (PVIP) and Photovoltaic Technical Sales (PVTS). When she isn’t immersed in training, Brit is a budding regenerative farmer just outside of Atlanta where she is developing a 17-acre farm rooted in permaculture principles. She can be found building soil health, cultivating edible & medicinal plants, caring for her animals or building functional art. More posts by Brit