800 kW Ground-Mount Solar PV – Kotzebue, Alaska

Project Overview

Electrical design for an 800 kW DC solar array above the Arctic Circle. The array interconnects at 12.47 kV to an isolated diesel, wind, solar, and battery grid.

Our Scope

• Basis of design memo

• 30%, 90%, and 100% electrical construction documents

• PV stringing

• Short-circuit and voltage-drop calculations

• Arc flash study

• PVsyst model review

• Equipment quote support

• Permitting coordination with the City and the State Fire Marshal

“An arctic coastal site with permafrost, frost heave, wind-driven snow, and salt exposure. The array must be coordinated with diesel minimum loading, curtailment, and utility protection on an islanded grid.”

— The Challenge

Outcome

90% resubmission in progress.

Key Specifications

• Flagship Role
  Electrical Engineer of Record

• Array
  800 kW DC / 625 kW AC

• Modules
  1,356 bifacial modules at 590 W

• Inverters
  5 string inverters at 1,500 VDC

• Transformer
  750 kVA pad-mount step-up, dual-rated 12.47/24.9 kV

• Services Provided
  Electrical design, power system studies, arc flash study, energy model review

• Client
  Confidential