There’s no doubt that solar energy will continue to grow in popularity. As that happens, the need for proper development of solar energy systems becomes increasingly important. AS lot goes into the typical solar project development Seattle process, whether it’s for a single residence or for an entire area. Here are four key aspects that must be considered closely with any type of development project.
Securing Land Rights
While this may seem straightforward, it’s important to remember that land rights often require being able to comply with any restrictions associated with the use of the acreage. How the property is zoned will make some difference. Specifically, it’s essential to find out if the land in question cannot be used for the creation and operation of any type of solar power generation equipment or facility.
Assuming this is not an issue, there may be limitations on how the use of solar energy is deployed. Those limitations must be addressed and resolved before the land rights are secured. Without attention to detail, those rights will not provide any useful support in developing a solar power facility.
Making Sure Interconnection Rights and Procedures are in Place
Interconnection is essentially the way that the energy collected by the system will be able to deploy in connection with other sources, such as an existing power grid. The goal is to ensure that the setup is designed with fail safes that prevent any type of overloading. It also has to do with making sure the transmission system used to convey the energy is in line with current EPA guidelines.
As a project developer, the key is to understand what standards must be met in order to ensure the safest and the most efficient transfer. This is not important only for environmental reasons; it also has to do with ensuring the power source remains viable for the long term.
Getting the Right Building Permits
Depending on the nature of the project, building facilities is likely to be part of the process. It’s not just solar panels that must be placed on top of existing buildings or mounted somewhere on the property. There may be the need for new construction. If so, there will be the need to obtain building permits before the project can really get underway.
This key element of solar project development Seattle does mean coming up with a plan that keeps any construction in compliance with current laws. It may also involve attempting to obtain easements from the owners of surrounding properties. Once all the issues related to construction are settled, the work can move forward.
Overseeing the Design and Construction of the Solar Array
Not all solar energy systems are configured in exactly the same way. Capacity, intended purpose, and a number of other factors affect how the facility is arranged and what is included. The goal is to ensure that the layout and the elements included ensure the network is capable of providing the amount of energy desired. It also helps to ensure the design is one that can be adapted if the need to expand the facility occurs later on.
Quality assurance becomes a major factor during the construction. At each point, the function of all component is tested. Safety is also key, since the goal is to ensure that the array works properly and can be maintained with relative ease. Even after everything is in place and the array is pressed into service, monitoring the network efficiency for a time is necessary.
There’s more that goes into any type of residential or commercial solar energy project. If you have plans for converting to solar power or at least implementing it as a backup source at your facility, talk with an expert today. It won’t take long to determine what groundwork must be laid and how to ensure the project can move forward without any complications.