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Lessons from the Early Adopters

Pure Power has provided clients with professional services for more than a decade, including electrical, structural, and mechanical engineering, energy modeling, project development support, and PV plant performance analysis and reporting. The...

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Strategic Choices: Outsourcing Engineering Services Versus In-House Engineering Teams

Companies continually seek ways to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and streamline their operations in the increasingly competitive solar industry. A common strategy many firms adopt involves outsourcing engineering services despite the presence...

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The Pitfalls Of Opting For Overseas Solar Engineering Firms

In the competitive world of solar engineering, the allure of saving money on upfront costs might seem like a wise choice for many EPCs. However, deciding to opt for a lower-cost overseas firm often comes with hidden costs and risks that can...

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Key Insights from RE+ 2023

RE+ 2023 brought together leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from the renewable energy industry to discuss the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in the field. Amidst the numerous booths, presentations, and discussions, several...

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Structural Engineering for Roof-Mounted Solar Projects

Structural Engineering is a small but critical part of the engineering for a rooftop solar project.  It can make or break the feasibility of the project or have significant effects on the system size and cost of racking. 

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Free Voltage Drop

This is a follow up to the article Design Recommendations for 1500V String inverters, where we only briefly mentioned "Free Voltage Drop" and wanted to dive in a little deeper here.

When we value engineer a large solar project, we can take advantage...

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Design Recommendations for 1500-Volt String Inverters

At Pure Power Engineering, our engineers work closely with project originators, developers and EPC firms to reduce the upfront capital costs of construction without sacrificing long-term operating costs. Given the dynamic nature of solar...

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Solar Carport Optimization - Part 1 of 2

Carports and canopies are the most expensive type of racking or PV module support structure. Therefore, its critical to optimize equipment selection and value engineer these projects.

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Intro to Relays #3 – What does SEL stand for?

Protective Relays are an advanced area of electrical engineering and contracting that can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! This series of 3 articles will introduce basic relaying to the non-engineers in the solar and energy storage...

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Intro to Relays #2 - ANSI/IEEE Relay Numbers

Protective Relays are an advanced area of electrical engineering and contracting that can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! This series of 3 articles will introduce basic relaying to the non-engineers in the solar and energy storage...

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Intro to Relays #1 - What are Relays, CTs & PTs?

Protective Relays are an advanced area of electrical engineering and contracting that can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! This series of 3 articles will introduce basic relaying to the non-engineers in the solar and energy storage...

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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Connector Mismatch

PV connector mismatch is one of the most common solar project deficiencies. In our work as an Owner’s Engineer, Pure Power identifies mismatch connectors on roughly 25% of our clients’ projects. While PV connector mismatch is a persistent and...

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3rd Party Drawing Reviews Reduce Risk

Long before a system completes construction and starts its 25+ year generation life, it all starts with the design.  The design is a multiplying force where a small mistake can cause big problems and introduce risk throughout the life of the system.

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3G Wireless Network Obsolescence and Its Impact on Solar

By the end of 2019, Verizon will obsolete its coverage on legacy 3G networks. ATT will follow suit by 2021. The time to implement a replacement plan is now.

Why is this important for owners and financiers?

Connectivity to a site is the lifeline for...

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Understanding Microgrid Due Diligence

In the United States, energy storage capacity has now surpassed two gigawatt hours. Year over year, this capacity is increasing by nearly 50%, according to Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine. This is enough energy to power more than 1.6 million...

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What Is Photovoltaic Solar Energy and How Does it Work?

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find solar panels installed by a solar independent engineer on the roof of both residential and commercial buildings. These solar panels comprise small cells referred to as photovoltaic cells. These cells are the...

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Expect the Unexpected: The Impacts of Grid Congestion on Solar Development

As the installed capacity of solar PV systems in the US continues to scale and more geographic regions of the country achieve high penetration rates of renewables, grid congestion is becoming a high priority consideration for many large-scale...

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Developing Bankable Solar + Storage Projects

To fund solar and energy storage projects, developers must first clear a lender’s bankability hurdle. In this context, bankability is directly related to investor confidence and the perceived risk associated with project returns. Due diligence...

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Avoiding the Limitations of Workmanship and Equipment Warranties in C&I and Utility Solar Applications

Workmanship and equipment warranties are the only thing that survive the passing of guardianship as a solar asset is developed, constructed and operated. Throughout a project’s lifecycle, different stakeholders pass the hot potato of responsibility...

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Solar Asset Acquisition: Optimizing the Value of Third-Party Engineering Services During and After Construction

For IPPs that acquire solar assets after projects are developed and designedrather than during development or design stagesthere are relatively fewer opportunities to fix design problems or engage in value engineering. Nevertheless, it remains...

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Solar Asset Acquisition: Optimizing the Value of Third-Party Engineering Services During Development and Design

Independent power producers (IPPs) have different business models for solar asset acquisition. Some IPPs actively engage in development activities, such as site selection and preliminary design studies. Other IPPs look to acquire PV power systems...

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Independent Engineering Versus Owner’s Engineering

When companies do not have in-house engineering—or when an independent third-party perspective is required—outsourcing is common practice. This typically involves engaging an independent engineer (IE) or an owner’s engineer (OE) for professional...

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Best Practices Versus Code Compliance

Technical due diligence is essential to solar project success in commercial, industrial and utility applications. Large PV power systems are capital-intensive expenditures with a service life of 30 years or more. If these assets do not operate...

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Importance of Accurate As-Built Drawings

As an Owners Engineer, Pure Power often supports clients by making strategic decisions about how best to repair, re-power, or optimize the performance of operational solar assets. In this role, our team of experts and engineers often relies on...

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Climate-Specific Design – Risk vs Value Engineering

Mother Nature provides an unlimited source of clean energy from the sun. However, she also has a dark side that can wreak havoc on your array. As your Owners Engineer, Pure Power ensures the assets you build and acquire are designed for all the...

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Optimizing I-V Curve Tracing Activities

Through our work as an Owner’s Engineer, Pure Power has extensive experience evaluating, inspecting, and commissioning PV power systems. While I-V curve tracing is an essential tool in these efforts, it is not necessarily the best tool for every...

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Using Aerial Imaging in Lieu of Boots on the Ground

The strategic and efficient use of resources for PV system commissioning and operations and maintenance (O&M) are critical to optimizing solar PV power system revenue and profitability. Through our work as an Owner’s Engineer, Pure Power has...

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When to use PVsyst, HelioScope, and SAM

At Pure Power, our project managers and engineers use photovoltaic simulation software developed by PVsyst, Folsom Labs, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). By having access to and experience with multiple complementary tools, we...

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What is Technical Debt?

Technical Debtis the cost to the system owner as a result of prior decisions made to save time or money during the engineering, procurement, or installation of a solar project.

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Technical Due Diligence for Solar Purchase and/or Acquisitions

Pure Power has been helping our client’s de-risk in their assets with our Independent Engineering (IE) & Owner’s Agent services. We cover the complex technical aspects of due diligence, while you focus on the financial and management side of the...

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The Cost of Quality – A Solar IE’s perspective

There is a well-known business adage called the “Cost of Quality”. This is a sliding scale that says, the closer to completion a project gets, the more expensive it is to fix quality issues.

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Under-Performance – Part 2: Soiling, Snow, & Shade

Modules can underperform for a variety of environmental and non-environmental factors. With good design and operation practices we can mitigate non-environmental factors. However, we cannot control the environment. We can only predict its behavior,...

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Module Underperformance – Part 1: The Sun’s Potential

Modules can underperform for a variety of environmental and non-environmental factors. With good design and operation practices we can mitigate non-environmental factors. However, we cannot control the environment. We can only predict its behavior,...

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The Importance of Torque for PV System Longevity

Torque is a commonly used term in Solar PV system inspection, which refers to the act of tightening a mechanical fastener. The fastener can cover a wide array of details, not limited to attaching structural members, electrical connection and weather...

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Conduct Due Diligence In-House or Hire a Specialist?

Conducting technicaldue diligencebefore a purchase/acquisition is essential for reducing risk and operating expense.

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Buyers Need an Owner’s Engineer in this Sellers’ Market

Pure Power has been helping buyers de-risk in their asset acquisition with ourOwner’s representativeandIndependent Engineeringservices. We specialize in the technical due diligence and operation, allowing you to focus on the financial and...

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Spring Time for Preventive Maintenance

Spring cleaning also applies to solar! After harsh exposure to winter’s snow, ice, and rain, systems benefit from routine inspection and maintenance. This ensures performance will be optimal as the season progresses.

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ASTM E2848 Capacity Test for Beginners

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Acquiring Existing Photovoltaic Systems

A Photovoltaic (PV) System may change hands multiple times over its 20+ year operational lifespan. The buyer and seller in each transaction may view the same project or portfolio from very different perspectives. Simply put, the seller will...

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Understanding Bifacial Gain in PV Power Plants

Unlike conventional PV modules that convert only front-side irradiance into electrical power, bifacial modules convert both front- and back-side irradiance into electricity. While the additional rear-side irradiance improves plant performance in...

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Pro Tips for Passing a PV System Capacity Test

The basic goal of ASTM E2848, “Standard Test Method for Reporting Photovoltaic Non-Concentrator System Performance,” is to compare the ratio of a PV power plant’s actual in-field performance to its expected performance based on a system model. The...

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Repowering Legacy PV and ESS Systems

In recent years, an increasing number of clients have come to Pure Power Engineering for assistance repowering legacy solar PV and energy storage systems. A fundamental goal of repowering is to replace underperforming or obsolete equipment while...

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Outsourced Versus In-House Solar Engineering Services

Roughly 80% of Pure Power’s customers have some level of internal engineering capabilities. Judging a book by its cover, this vast majority may seem counterintuitive. After all, why would engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors...

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Engineering Supervision for Bifacial PV Systems

Bifacial PV modules convert both front- and back-side irradiance into electricity. This bifacial boost improves solar project performance both in terms of yield and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Due to these benefits, bifacial PV modules are...

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Neutral Conductor Value Engineering in 3-Phase String-Inverter Systems

What is a "Neutral" conductor?

To an Engineer: A "neutral" is a current-carrying conductor that carries the unbalanced current in 3 phase systems, and is intentionally connected to the ground. In North America, the neutral is color-coded white or...

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Roof-Mounted Solar: Structural and Waterproofing Considerations in C&I Applications

In the first part of this two-part article, I covered the roof membranes and roofing systems commonly used in commercial and industrial (C&I) buildings. Roof identification is important because this information drives other design and engineering...

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Solar Carport Optimization - Part 2

Carports and canopies are the most expensive type of racking or PV module support structure. Therefore, its critical to optimize equipment selection and value engineer these projects.

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Roof-Mounted Solar: Identifying Low-Slope Roofing Types

Commercial and industrial (C&I) roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems present a unique set of engineering challenges and technical risks. Some commercial roof considerations—such as the structural analysis and roof loading plan—apply...

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Aluminum Conductors in Solar Applications: How to Save Costs without Sacrificing Reliability

A principle goal of value engineering is to deliver long-term performance and reliability at the lowest cost practicable. One effective way to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in large-scale or commercial and industrial (C&I) solar...

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Why Energy Storage Is More Difficult to Scale Than Solar PV

As interest in stationary energy storage grows, it is tempting to assume that energy storage systems (ESS) in general—and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in particular—will follow a similar growth curve as solar photovoltaics (PV). In this...

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