Photograph: Nexamp
Nexamp simply pulled off one thing that might velocity up clear power deployment throughout the US – and probably decrease prices for everybody. The Boston-based photo voltaic developer simply completed constructing three new photo voltaic farms in Maine and Massachusetts. However as an alternative of ready on the utility to deal with all of the grid hookup work, Nexamp did it themselves.
Which may not sound groundbreaking at first, however on this planet of renewable power, it’s a fairly large deal. Usually, utilities are answerable for any grid upgrades and interconnection work wanted earlier than a brand new photo voltaic undertaking can begin sending energy to properties and companies. That course of will be very gradual and costly.
Nexamp’s new strategy, referred to as “self-performance,” flips the script. It lets builders tackle a few of that work, like ordering and putting in gear, in order that they don’t have to take a seat round ready for the utility to schedule it. Which means photo voltaic farms can get on-line quicker, which will get clear energy to the grid sooner and retains undertaking prices in test.
The three initiatives that kicked off this self-performance effort are:
- Hartland Photo voltaic – 1.2 MW DC in Hartland, ME
- Barre Street Photo voltaic – 1.3 MW DC in New Braintree, MA
- Summit Farm Photo voltaic – 2.6 MW DC, additionally in New Braintree
Nexamp didn’t go rogue – they labored intently with Central Maine Energy and Nationwide Grid on the interconnection designs, security requirements, and technical specs. However by dealing with the precise procurement and building, Nexamp had far more management over value, timing, and provide chain complications.
“Self-performance lets us take a lot higher management over interconnection procurement and building,” stated Daniel Passarello, Nexamp’s lead consulting engineer for grid integration. “We will transfer a lot of the interconnection work ahead similtaneously the photo voltaic farm construct as an alternative of treating them as separate. That helps us deliver initiatives on-line quicker and keep nearer to finances.”
It additionally helps that Nexamp already has strong relationships with suppliers. As an alternative of going by a number of layers of utility procurement, they’ll go straight to the supply, quick.
That form of streamlining is strictly what the photo voltaic trade wants proper now. Neighborhood photo voltaic is booming – as of the top of 2024, almost 8 gigawatts of it have been put in throughout the US, in line with the the Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA), and that quantity is predicted to nearly double by 2030. However bottlenecks within the interconnection course of gradual issues down.
Sara Birmingham, VP of state affairs at SEIA, referred to as Nexamp’s transfer a step in the suitable path. “We should modernize and streamline the interconnection course of to maintain tempo with fast-growing demand,” she stated. “Self-performance is considered one of a number of revolutionary approaches that may speed up undertaking timelines and decrease prices, which advantages all ratepayers.”
Learn extra: Walmart and Nexamp are rolling out 31 photo voltaic farms in 5 states
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