Utility-Scale Solar Power Plant FundamentalsFebruary 28-March 1, 2023 | Phoenix, AZ Sponsored by EUCI |
Utility-scale solar power plants now constitute the largest number of facilities under development in the power sector. Industry experts confirm that trend will hold and even accelerate as the demand for renewable energy resources escalates. Thus, the pool is expanding of project developers, investors and utilities who must understand how to plan, develop, and interconnect these plants to the existing electric grid. This course is designed to familiarize attendees with:
Register today to benefit from a broad review of development and capital cost deployment – coupled with energy production modeling techniques – that will provide course participants with the basics of cost-of-energy analysis and how design decisions can impact overall plant economics. Solar industry practitioners will also review procurement best practices, along with design and equipment procurement considerations to reduce risk for asset owners. Learning Outcomes Attendees at this course will:
AgendaTUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Mountain Time 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. :: Overview and Introductions 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. :: Solar Building Blocks
Torrey Graf, Vice President & Chief Engineer, Fast Grid 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Power Plant Design & Engineering Component Evaluation/Specification/Optimization
Kyle Burns, PV Senior Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. :: Lunch Break 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. :: Owner’s Engineer, Testing and CommissioningThis presentation will address the elements of an independent (owner’s) engineer’s role and the related concept of commissioning and how they should be executed:
Joshua Ahrens, Project Manager – Power Generation, Burns & McDonnell 3:00 – 3:15 p.m. :: Afternoon Break 3:15 – 4:45 p.m. :: Cost Estimating and EPC Considerations
Drew Powers, Construction Project Manager – Solar, Burns & McDonnell 4:45 p.m. :: Program Adjourns for Day
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 : MOUNTAIN TIME 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Mountain Time 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: High-level Assessment of Underlying Conditions, Preparations, & Milestones
Erin Baker, Director – Development, Vesper Energy 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. :: Morning Break 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. :: Energy Modeling Fundamentals
Martin Gonzalez, PV Senior Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Procurement Considerations
Katheryn Bohn, Project Manager – Solar & Storage, Avantus 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. :: Group Lunch 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. :: Solar + Storage
Jason Barmann, Energy Storage Technology Manager, Burns & McDonnell 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. :: Afternoon Break 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. :: Thinking with the End in Mind: Linking PV Plant Design Considerations to O&MThis segment explores linkages between key decisions made during the initial design phase and their impact on life cycle operations and maintenance (O&M) costs to better inform “thinking with the end in mind.” Given the accelerating investment in solar PV by electric utilities — and their emphasis towards holistic costs over the life of the plant, as compared to maximizing return on upfront capital expenditures — this is an increasingly important aspect in optimizing solar power plant design. Yet, sound advice is not always followed. Therefore, the discussion will also consider the consequences on an operating basis of how to deal with plant condition and performance issues when the design and development team doesn’t follow O&M team guidance. And, it will examine how the O&M team can effectively communicate its preferences to the design and development team in a fashion that can may circumvent the internal minefields that sometimes bedevil inconvenient truths. Lynsey Tibbs, Director – Asset Management, Silicon Ranch 4:15 p.m. :: Course Adjournment InstructorsJoshua Ahrens, Project Manager – Power Generation, Burns & McDonnell Joshua Ahrens is Project Manager for Power Generation at Burns & McDonnell. He has nearly two decades of experience in project and engineering management and structural engineering for conventional power and photovoltaic solar power projects. Mr. Ahrens’ experience has been almost entirely in the energy industry including both conventional and renewable power projects starting with his support of a large Air-Quality Control Project, leading into several utility-scale solar projects. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado. Erin Baker, Director – Development, Vesper Energy Erin Baker a Director of Development for Vesper Energy, a developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy and energy storage facilities across the U.S. The company has more than 3,000 megawatts in the development pipeline. Ms. Baker has more than a decade of experience specializing in renewable energy development and manages the project developer’s eastern region team and portfolio. She has long been involved in Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE, formerly WoWE) and has served as a Board member of the Chicago Chapter from 2017-2021. Prior to starting her professional career, Erin received her B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and M.S. in Ecosystem Science & Management from Texas A&M University. Jason Barmann, Energy Storage Technical & Strategic Partnerships Manager, Burns & McDonnell Jason Barmann is Energy Storage Technical and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Burns & McDonnell Engineering in the electrical group of the Energy Division. His responsibilities include the evaluation and design of utility scale energy storage solutions, technology development and evaluation, battery pilot project coordination, consulting services, evaluation of battery manufacturing capabilities/facilities, project management, electrical system design, equipment procurement and contract management. Mr. Barmann’s experience includes Lithium-ion, Flow, and other storage technologies. Katheryn Bohn, Project Manager – Solar & Storage, Avantus Katheryn Bohn is Project Manager of Solar & Storage at project developer Avantus. She joined the firm in 2021. Previously she spent seven years at Burns & McDonnell, first as Assistant Mechanical Engineer then as Staff Mechanical Engineer. She also filled brief engineering assignments at Phillips 66 and Eaton Corp. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Penn State University. Kyle Burns, PV Senior Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell Kyle Burns is a Senior Electrical Engineer in the Solar Energy Group at Burns & McDonnell. He previously worked an active NASA mission prior to pivoting focus to renewables where he has 10 years of experience in the solar industry. Mr. Burns leads the PV electrical design of various solar EPC projects contracted by Burns & McDonnell. In addition, Mr. Burns has been the technical lead for equipment selection and procurement of inverters, DC and MV cable, and DC collection systems for various utility-scale PV projects. Mr. Burns other areas of expertise include detailed electrical PV system design, PV System owners engineering, battery energy storage design, PV plant performance analysis and project management. Martin Gonzalez, PV Senior Electrical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell Martin Gonzalez is a senior electrical engineer in the Solar Group at Burns & McDonnell. He has nearly two decades of experience in a variety of roles related to the design and construction of PV systems. Mr. Gonzalez has been responsible for the design of residential, commercial, and utility scale PV systems, in addition to various other renewable energy projects. He provides on-site support for the installation, testing, and commissioning of PV systems and PV system monitoring equipment. He has worked on some of the largest and most lauded solar projects in the nation, including serving as the the owner’s engineer on the largest solar PV project in the United States – the 580-MW Solar Star. Mr. Gonzalez has developed a strong understanding of PV system design and operation, equipment selection, electrical installation best practices. He assists with PV system troubleshooting, testing, and maintenance, in addition to performing design reviews in an owner’s engineering role. Torrey Graf, Vice President – Engineering, FastGrid LLC Torrey Graf is Vice President of Engineering at FastGrid LLC, which he joined in 2022. He has 12 years of electrical engineering experience across both traditional power and utility-scale solar generation, as well as deep experience in large-scale energy storage. In addition to building and leading multidisciplinary teams at Burns & McDonnell, Mr. Graf has served as engineering and project manager on more than 4 GW of solar and 2 GW of energy storage projects across the United States. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. Drew Powers, Construction Project Manager – Solar, Burns & McDonnell Drew Powers is Construction Project Manager for Solar projects at Burns & McDonnell. He has worked for the EPC over the past decade, filling several roles of increasing responsibility at the firm. Lynsey Tibbs, Director – Asset Management, Silicon Ranch Lynsey Tibbs is Director of Asset Management at Silicon Ranch. She has a decade and a half experience as an engineer in the energy sector. Skilled in power generation with a focus on solar energy, specifically managing nearly a gigawatt of installed solar. Ms. Tibbs is versed in project and contractor management having overseen one-half billion dollars of solar installations. Besides her role in solar project implementation, she also has served the company as a solar project engineer and forecast analyst. Before joining the organization, she was Solar Operations Project Manager at Southern Power Company. LocationCentral Arts Plaza1850 N Central AvePhoenix, AZ 85004
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