Hossein Ghoveisi, PhD, - Head of Hydrology, Castillo Engineering When people think of solar, “water” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Water and solar projects are often treated separately, but they should be considered together.   As solar development moves to more constrained and irregular sites, and as major storms grow in both frequency and intensity, keeping the two apart has become a challenge for hydrologists.   Addressing hydrology inadequately, or too late, o

Arun Ramadass, Vice President of Engineering at Castillo In just the last few years, BESS systems have become much faster, easier, and more cost-effective to install – leading to tremendous growth and demand for project engineers. While this is great news for the renewable energy transition, easier installations can create a false sense of comfort among well-meaning but less experienced engineers, who may overlook critical due diligence and design steps.  An inexperienced eng

Written by Arun Ramadass, VP of Operations, and Brett Beattie, Director of Civil Engineering As engineers, we’ve seen many trends come and go in utility-scale solar. Some solve real problems; others just shift the challenges somewhere else. Right now, the industry is focused on how to make projects work within tighter margins and on increasingly complex sites. Our goal is to use sound engineering judgment to balance stakeholders’ three main objectives: Cost Constructibility L

Snowflakes and solar projects might not seem very similar – and when solar was less widespread, they weren’t. However, utility-scale solar has grown so fast that large, flat, square parcels of land are rarely available. As solar development expands into more constrained regions, project site maps increasingly resemble snowflakes: unique, irregular, and complicated. At Castillo Engineering, we call these “Snowflake Projects,” and they’re quickly becoming a defining feature of

As utility-scale solar projects grow in size, complexity, and grid impact, understanding the nuances of power system studies has become...

Delivering a successful utility-scale solar project takes more than solid engineering. It also requires flawless project management that...

The demand for solar energy in the U.S. is surging, but grid interconnection remains one of the biggest obstacles to deploying new...

Did you know that hackers recently obtained access to enough solar power to run the entire United States ?  Fortunately, these hackers...

The National Electrical Code (NEC) sets the standards for electrical installations, including photovoltaic (PV) systems. Over the years,...

Bifacial solar modules are transforming the utility-scale solar landscape by significantly increasing energy yield and system efficiency....

In utility-scale solar projects, thorough planning is critical to ensure the most reliable, efficient, and safe operations. Beyond...

In the development of utility-scale solar projects, the importance of a well-conducted design and engineering due diligence process...

The utility-scale solar industry is booming, but with its rapid growth come challenges that can significantly impact the success and...

Utility-scale solar projects rely heavily on the type of inverter used, as it directly impacts installation, efficiency, cost, and...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of utility-scale solar energy projects, effective cable management is a critical component when it...

When designing and engineering utility-scale solar projects, being proactive and adaptable is critical to avoid significant unforeseen...

The utility-scale solar energy sector is rapidly evolving, with evolving innovations aimed at reducing costs and increasing efficiency....

Integrating solar racking systems with civil plans is a critical aspect of successful solar energy projects. From setbacks to spacing to...

Utility-scale solar projects involve complex and large-scale operations, requiring meticulous planning, coordination, and execution to...

The majority of solar construction projects in the U.S. will fall under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)...