Topaz Solar Farm Collection System EPC

TRC safely completed the Engineering, Procurement and Construction for this project, including geotechnical investigation, design and permitting, approximately two months before First Solar needed to energize the solar panels.

The Topaz Solar Farm is a 550 MW renewable energy project in San Luis Obispo County, California. Because of its large size, solar panels are located on both the north and south side of State Highway 58. A crossing under the highway was needed to connect the collection system and energize the panels. Working for First Solar, TRC used jack and bore methods to install steel encasement pipes under Highway 58- without disruption- to house conduits for the collection system power conductors and fiber optic cables.

Our solutions included:

• Site-specific geotechnical investigation, including assessing the thermal resistivity characteristics of native soils.
• Value engineering assessment of power conductors to increase the reliability of the collection system, while reducing overall project costs.
• Civil and electrical designs, including plans and specifications, a thermal analysis assessment and report, a Method of Construction document, Health and Safety Plan and Quality Control Plan.
• Permit applications to construct the project, including securing approval from the California Department of Transportation, San Luis Obispo County Building Department, and California Department of Occupation Safety and Health.
• Construction materials procurement.
• Project construction, including the installation of three 48-inch O.D. steel encasement pipes, each 80 feet long; conduits were installed inside the pipes, and the annular space was filled with grout/concrete slurry for thermal considerations.

Client

First Solar

Project Location

California