Solar developers provide 12-month outlook for large-scale projects

Large-scale solar developers have myriad market factors to consider while deploying new projects, from supply chain concerns to permitting issues and to interconnection delays. Each of these factors could mean the difference between a successful project and a dud.
Solar Builder recently polled several industry experts to understand the market factors that are most impacting their business. Here’s what they had to say:
What are you monitoring most in new large-scale solar project development over the next 12 months?

Megan Byrn, VP of Business Development, Standard Solar: “We’ve seen a growing demand for large on-site, behind-the-meter solar as the U.S. experiences a rapid buildout of new manufacturing facilities and data centers. The massive power demand these sites consume, and existing constraints of the U.S. power grid make timely access to power supply critical. The interesting dynamic the solar development industry is experiencing with this trend is that historically most on-site solar was deployed at small-scale installations (residential and small C&I rooftops, school parking lots, etc.) and most large-scale solar was built to directly supply the grid. Standard Solar has extensive experience with both market segments and is excited by the opportunity to marry that skillset into a comprehensive product offering for large on-site solar developments.”
Adam Bernardi, Director of EPC Sales & Strategy for Renewables at Burns & McDonnell: “We’re closely watching module supply availability and their sourcing. We are in ongoing discussions with labor to ensure availability, particularly for solar projects in specific areas. We are unique in that we do more than just solar, often cross-pollinating with other industries to help us forecast labor trends for large projects.
“We’re also tracking the influx of OEMs entering the U.S. solar market. As requirements for domestically sourced materials become stricter, supply from Tier 1 providers will become more limited, opening the door for Tier 2 and 3 providers to enter the market and hone their products.
“We’re constantly educating ourselves on new technologies, their capabilities, and limitations. Additionally, we are working with OEMs to understand their perspective on the changing domestic requirement rules and how we need to work together to deliver the solutions that owners will request from both of us.”
Dan O’Brien, SVP of Energy Solutions – Direct, DSD Renewables: “Over the next year, a key focus for large-scale development will be seeing how developers’ access to domestically made modules shifts. The evolving trade policies and tariffs that are being imposed on Chinese-produced solar modules and battery components will continue to have an impact on the availability of components and project economics.
“This is not necessarily a problem that we are dealing with at DSD, but many in the industry will need to continually navigate this barrier to ensure they have a viable supply of project equipment for their pipeline. The hope is that these imposed tariffs will push a supply of more domestically made components that will become accessible to more developers. This is going to be critical for reducing the industry’s dependency on international suppliers and mitigating any future unforeseen risks involved with sourcing globally.
“With 2.6 terawatts of clean energy sitting in interconnection queues, another big focus is how our nation will address the transmission and distribution network level challenges that remain a barrier to scaling up solar and renewable energy projects. The industry’s eyes have been on the recently passed FERC Order 1920, which promises to reform transmission planning, making more concrete guidelines for deploying networks and creating more efficiency in project deployment and interconnection. Now a lot of work lies ahead, and the upcoming presidential election will have a huge influence on energy policy, regulatory frameworks, and incentive structures that will chart the course of what happens next when it comes to overcoming these deployment barriers. Ideally, utilities, regulators, developers, and other industry stakeholders will all hold up their end of the deal so we can come together to really make some progress toward wide scale solar deployment and our nation’s net-zero targets.”
David Carpenter, VP of Development &Chief Legal Officer, Green Lantern Solar: “The definition of ‘large-scale’ solar can vary, but it will be interesting to see how opposition to larger projects, regardless of the specific definition, could create opportunities for the development and acceptance of smaller-scale solar projects (under 50 acres).”
For more solar developer insights, be sure to check out the Q3 issue of Solar Builder.
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