- Feasibility and system impact studies
- Technology evaluation
- Preliminary plant design
Envision. Engineer. Energize.
Achieving sustainable and cost-effective outcomes with full project lifecycle solutions.
From finding the right location, obtaining permits, working with stakeholders, building on challenging sites and connecting to the grid, solar power development projects face many obstacles. To be successful in today’s changing energy and regulatory landscape, you need support from a trusted advisor who can guide you every step of the way.
TRC provides development solutions, including site selection, interconnection, impact assessment, permitting, solar engineering, construction management and testing and commissioning for major projects across the United States. We move projects from concept to completion while helping you minimize environmental impacts.
Blaze New Paths With TRC’s Solar Development Experts
Our experts plan, permit, engineer and support construction for small and large solar initiatives nationwide. We design projects that minimize environmental impacts and avoid costly mitigation without creating construction or operational constraints.
Our solutions overcome development hurdles, including project opposition, appeals, delays and technical challenges. We leverage long-standing relationships with developers, electric utilities and regulatory agencies to efficiently complete development and move projects into construction and then operation.
Integrated Solutions for Solar Project Success
TRC guides our clients through solar power development projects, from the earliest stages to long-term operation. We can help determine a project’s feasibility, the environmental impact, and even test the power once it is installed. Our solutions include:
- Cultural and natural resources surveys
- Threatened and endangered species studies
- Glint glare/analysis and visual simulations
- Agency consultations
- Public involvement programs
- Zoning and Planning Commission reviews
- Geotechnical assessment
- Civil roadway and drainage design
- Site grading and civil structural design
- Security
- Conceptual and detailed plant design
- Collection system design
- Grid interconnect and capacity analysis
- Transmission, distribution, substation engineering
- Specification preparation and procurement
- Procurement
- Solar construction management/oversight
- Environmental compliance monitoring
- High voltage testing
Our Expertise Demonstrated
TRC assists in every area of solar power development, as shown in our past work on behalf of numerous utilities.
Solar Engineering, Procurement and Construction
ABB wanted to showcase its products within the United States by installing a 1.29 MW ground-mounted solar system at its Belton, South Carolina, facility. After the first consultant was unable to complete the project, ABB turned to TRC for help under a compressed timeline so it could access a utility rebate and offset costs.
Solar Siting and Permitting
When a utility-scale solar development company proposed building ground-mounted installations across Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, it faced multiple environmental and regulatory challenges. Drawing on our technical skills, regulatory relationships and regional experience, TRC helped the developer become a key player in bringing clean energy to New England.
Environmental and Electrical Engineering Solutions
To support the development of a solar array and transmission interconnect in Henry County, Alabama, TRC provided critical environmental screening and electrical design. Our team reviewed and analyzed all potentially applicable approvals required for the project.
Solar Site Engineering and Solar Farm Construction
TRC’s knowledge of state and local regulations helped a solar client confidently move forward with new project development in the Midwest. Our experts delivered environmental, civil and electrical solutions across 10 sites in 30 days.
Featured Projects
Discover the success we’ve had with helping our clients execute major solar projects and make a meaningful impact on their local communities.
- Biological Assessment
- Environmental Assessment, Permitting and Compliance
- Environmental Site Assessment
TRC avian specialists are tasked with these surveys to determine the extent to which state-listed grassland birds are present
This solar installation is the first to be constructed on a municipal solid waste landfill in the State of New …
Upon completion, these projects will deliver 18MW of clean energy to the citizens of Wisconsin with minimal environmental impact.
TRC helped Inovateus demonstrate the suitability and advantages of a large property in Lapeer, Michigan.
Upon completion, these projects will deliver 18 MW of clean energy to the citizens of Wisconsin with minimal environmental impact.
TRC prepared and negotiated a Contaminant Containment and Contingency Plan with the EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
- Biological Assessment
- Environmental Assessment, Permitting and Compliance
- Environmental Site Assessment
TRC avian specialists are tasked with these surveys to determine the extent to which state-listed grassland birds are present
This solar installation is the first to be constructed on a municipal solid waste landfill in the State of New …
Upon completion, these projects will deliver 18MW of clean energy to the citizens of Wisconsin with minimal environmental impact.
TRC helped Inovateus demonstrate the suitability and advantages of a large property in Lapeer, Michigan.
Upon completion, these projects will deliver 18 MW of clean energy to the citizens of Wisconsin with minimal environmental impact.
TRC prepared and negotiated a Contaminant Containment and Contingency Plan with the EPA and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Achieve Your Solar Power Goals With TRC
Rely on TRC to handle all the details of projects, from solar procurement to construction management. Working with us enables youto minimize environmental impacts, control costs and keep projects moving. Talk to our team.
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Sharing Our Perspectives
Our practitioners share their insights and perspectives on the trends and challenges shaping the market.
NERC Releases Inverter Based Resources Webinar Series
October 19, 2023
As the power delivery system continues to rapidly evolve due to decarbonization policy initiatives, inverter-based resources (IBRs) are playing an ever-more significant role in generation additions to the bulk power system. NERC and other technical organizations have taken numerous actions to support the reliable integration of these resources.
FERC Issues Order 2023 to Resolve Interconnection Process Issues
September 25, 2023
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Order 2023 to facilitate and improve the speed and reliability of adding new energy resources to the power system
Intro to NERC Regulatory Guidance on Inverter-Based Resources
August 29, 2023
As renewable energy proliferates across the US power system, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) continues to actively address reliability risks resulting from the implementation of inverter-based resources (solar and wind generation technology) connected at both transmission and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) levels.
FERC Approves Plan to Register Certain Inverter-Based Resources as part of NERC Mandatory Standards Compliance Program
June 21, 2023
FERC issued an order approving NERC’s compliance filings.
New FERC Orders Will Change Regulatory Process for Inverter Based Resources
January 9, 2023
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently proposed actions to keep the regulatory process and requirements ahead of reliability risks resulting from the accelerated deployment of Inverter Based Resources (IBR) based solar, wind and battery storage projects.
NERC Releases Inverter-Based Resource Strategy Plan
October 25, 2022
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recently released an Inverter-Based Resource (IBR) Strategy, which details the steps needed to successfully integrate IBR facilities into the planning and operation of the power system. The strategy was put in place due to the rapid interconnection of IBR systems, which are extensively used for solar and wind generating facilities, including new battery-based energy storage systems and are one of the most significant drivers of power grid transformation. Because of control system inconsistencies, IBR facilities pose well-documented risks to power system reliability when this strategy’s practices are not adhered to. NERC’s plan calls attention to the need for thoughtful integration of IBRs and identifies current and future work required to mitigate reliability risks resulting from the deployment of this technology.
NERC’s Revised PRC-024-3 Standard for Inverter-Based Generation Effective in October 2022
May 11, 2022
Changes to PRC-024-3 in support of inverter-based generation performance are going into effect in October of this year. Interconnection programs and documentation procedures may need to be updated in order to maintain compliance.
New NERC Guidance Supports the Implementation of Grid Forming Inverters
March 8, 2022
NERC has issued a new report highlighting the key attributes of various inverter controls to support proper implementation and to protect reliability.
NERC Seeks to Improve GADS Reliability Performance Reporting
August 26, 2021
Under the enabling legislation that created the Electric Reliability Organization, NERC is responsible for assessing the reliable performance of the power system. One way NERC does so is via an industry reporting system for generation and transmission. The Generator Availability Data System (GADS) has been used by NERC and the industry for over 40 years to obtain data on the generation component of the power system[1]. Due to the rapidly changing generating resource mix, it is essential that NERC have comprehensive plant, event, outage and performance data for photovoltaic and wind generation to ensure reliability. As renewable technologies are increasingly deployed, a complete set of generation asset performance statistics is necessary to allow NERC to evaluate the system’s ability to serve load, the performance of the power system and to forecast any potential reliability issues due to resource inadequacy. Therefore, NERC is proposing to make the following enhancements to the GADS data collection process for renewable generation: Add Generator Owners that operate solar photovoltaic facilities of 20 MW or greater to the Generating Availability Data System (referred to as “GADS-PV”); and Expand GADS Wind (“GADS-W”) reporting to include connected energy storage and event reporting.
The Economics of Transitioning to Renewables
May 15, 2021
One of the biggest obstacles involved with the transition to renewable energy is speculation about its economic impact. Some worry that switching to renewables will cause instability in the economy, leading to job losses. Many communities across the United States rely on the economic impact of producing, manufacturing or otherwise taking part in the use of hydrocarbons.
Environmental Impacts of Transitioning to Renewables
May 15, 2021
The transition to renewable energy sources will have notable environmental impacts as well as economic impacts. To understand the possible implications, you’ll need some background knowledge of the ways fossil fuels affect the environment.
Transitioning Away From Hydrocarbons
May 15, 2021
The transition from oil and gas to renewables has involved complicated technological research. Sustainable energy production has become a priority around the world. Although the transition has been slow, technological advancements are promising. When approaching an energy transition, leaders should consider all different possible avenues and their potential impacts. Many alternative energy sources are available, each with its own pros and cons.
NERC Issues Battery Energy Storage Systems Reliability Guidance
April 22, 2021
While NERC has recently published a reliability guideline addressing inverter-based resources generally, they are now giving more attention to the various potential uses of BESS to support effective implementation with newly released guidance.
TRC Talks – Integrated Solutions for Renewable Energy
April 7, 2021
Close coordination when planning the electrical and civil design components of a renewable energy project is critical to development success. Working with a multi-disciplinary team can streamline approval processes and ensure optimum constructability.
TRC Companies Inc. Acquires 1Source Safety and Health
November 11, 2020
TRC Companies (“TRC”), a leading technology-driven provider of end-to-end engineering, consulting and construction management solutions, has acquired 1Source Safety and Health, a firm that provides management consulting services in areas such as indoor air quality, asbestos management, industrial hygiene and safety management systems.
City of Camarillo, California approves moving forward with Hybrid Solar Microgrids at five critical community facilities
November 6, 2020
On October 28, the Camarillo City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the design of Hybrid Microgrids at five City facilities: City Hall, the Corporation Yard, Camarillo Public Library, Police Station, and Wastewater Treatment Plant. The microgrid at the Camarillo Public Library will be designed with solar+storage only, while the other four sites will employ a hybrid design of solar+storage+diesel.
Michigan Utility’s First Brownfield Solar Project Highlights Promise, Challenges
November 7, 2019
TRC’s Doug Kilmer talks to Energy News Network about the benefits of repurposing brownfields as sites for solar arrays: “For some of these properties, this is the best way to get them back on the tax rolls.”
NERC to Modify Standard and Develop Compliance Guidance to Accommodate Inverter-Based Generation Technologies
February 20, 2019
Renewable energy systems have dramatically changed the power generation resource mix. These new generation technologies no longer involve directly coupled rotating generators which were once standard in the industry. Now, inverters that change Direct Current (DC) electricity to the Alternating Current (AC) electricity suitable for delivery via AC transmission systems are becoming more prevalent, raising reliability…
NERC Identifies New Reliability Risk due to Utility Scale Solar Generation Inverter Design
June 13, 2017
NERC has released a report documenting its findings and recommendations related to reliability risks from utility scale solar generation projects with implications for PRC-024 compliance, as well as generation, interconnection and protection system technologies.
Successful Interconnection of Utility Scale Solar Projects – Strategies to Stay on Schedule and on Budget
November 2, 2016
Growth in solar power creates challenges for both project proponents and utilities. TRC has reviewed hundreds of interconnection applications for utility partners, and we’ve learned important strategies for reducing the time and costs associated with interconnecting projects 1 megawatt or greater.