15 MWdc Massachusetts Community Solar Portfolio

Worchester County, Massachusetts

This 15 MWdc community solar portfolio was comprised of five projects that ranged in size from 2MWdc to 5MWdc. ARM provided geotechnical, electrical, structural and civil engineering services for the portfolio on behalf of a confidential client. This portfolio was installed on cleared wooded land throughout Massachusetts and had to contend with stringent development restrictions on the properties. The design and construction of the site were implemented in a manner that would overcome the geotechnical and electrical hurdles presented at the site such as frost heave and utility interconnection requirements, respectively. Because the portfolio was purchased from another solar developer, a full electrical and civil redesign was required, along with coordination with the developer and National Grid (the MA utility).

Project Highlights

Coordinating with client and National Grid to upgrade each project from central to string inverters, increasing the solar module wattage, and optimizing the racking and medium voltage equipment on all the sites
Designing foundation and racking systems utilizing ground screws to support the equipment loads and to address the potential for frost heave
Performing production and shading analysis, electrical and civil site inspections, arc-flash studies, and voltage drop calculations