ENR 2024 Mountain States Best Projects
Best Project, Energy/Industrial: Appaloosa Solar 1
Photo courtesy Jeremy Gudac
APPALOOSA SOLAR 1
Cedar City, Utah
BEST PROJECT
Submitted by: BHI
OWNER rPlus Energies LLC
EPC CONTRACTOR Sundt Renewables
PV/ELECTRICAL SCOPE BHI
This 200-MW solar generation facility is one of the first photovoltaic projects to utilize the solar production tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. The facility includes 62 pad-mounted transformers and 444,204 bifacial modules, each with a capacity of 540 watts. These modules harness sunlight reflected off the surface of the earth as well, enhancing energy capture and the plant’s efficiency.
BHI adopted a cable-plowing system for the installation of the medium voltage (MV) and direct current (DC) circuits rather than using traditional trenching methods. A messenger wire system that incorporated Shoals harnesses allowed crews to reduce the amount of material required to transmit electricity from the modules to the 914 combiner boxes positioned on site.
Afterward, the subterranean 750 KCMil DC cable conveyed electricity to the 62 pad-mounted inverter/transformer stations. The electricity was then routed to a substation through a range of MV cables distributed over nine circuits. When installing the project’s transformers, known as skids, BHI’s team designed and used precise templates to streamline and enhance the process.
After placing the foundation piles, the custom-made template is set upon them. This method ensures the accurate positioning of conduit risers, facilitating the placement of skids and the subsequent underground cable pull. These conduits must align perfectly with specific points on the skid to finalize the electrical circuits with the necessary terminations.
