Webinar: Solar Development 101 – From Contract to Construction

Webinar Preview: Solar Development 101 – From Contract to Construction

Step 1: Site Diligence, Engineering, and Financing

The property is evaluated and prepped for construction. The engineering team presents designs and specs, adjusting as needed while the development team works through site control tasks.

Once site diligence is complete, engineers will revisit the original site layout to finalize detailed engineering design documents, accounting for all information gathered and uncovered during site diligence.

In parallel with this process, our project finance team analyzes project information and coordinates with our tax-equity investor partners, and independent 3^rd Party Engineers, on scheduling the transaction closing process. This is important because it allows public entities to reap the benefits of the 30 percent Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) through a lower Power Purchase Agreement rate. If a public entity were to purchase a solar project outright, it would be unable to reap this benefit.

Step 2: Permit Approvals

For schools in California, this includes over-the-counter Division of the State Architect (DSA) plan approvals using DSA pre-check designs in nearly all instances. In addition, all necessary measures are completed to ensure facilities remain compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including shading existing ADA spaces, creating new ADA spaces, curb cutting, and tying into the existing path of travel.

Step 3: Construction

With all approvals in hand, procurement and construction begins on your solar energy project. System construction will vary, depending on the size of your project and any utility or interconnection upgrades needed. During this time, the development team and any relevant contractors will work with your facility team to schedule site visits, deliver materials, and build the project.

Step 4: Interconnection and Completion

The project is constructed, and the final step is to “interconnect” with the existing utility grid, then commission the system. Your local utility company will need to inspect the system and provide a smart meter for net metering, if necessary.

Ready for More? Watch the Webinar.

The steps outlined above are the key phases of the development process that you can expect to take after signing a solar and energy storage contract with a developer, but of course there is much more to expect.

This is the first of two webinars on the solar and energy storage development process. The second webinar, “Solar Development 201: From Construction to Commissioning with ForeFront Power”, will be held in early 2020.

Speakers Include:

• Nate Roberts: Sr. Director, Development
• Casey Miller: Director, Development
• David Granlund: Sr. Project Manager, Development