Using Terrain-Based LCOE Analysis to De-Risk a Project

Problem

A Leading Developer retained us to perform SiTE™ Optimization services for a utility-scale solar site in Kentucky. Their development engineering team was concerned that—based on the site’s challenging terrain—it might not be able to meet its interconnection capacity target while meetings its target LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy). Their specific focus was on terrain-related site factors that they wanted us to quantify for them so they could avoid early-stage site selection and design mis-steps and optimize their PV array placement to ensure they would meet their financial targets for the project.

Solution

KiloNewton proposed combining our SolarSpace®-based optimization analysis with financial analysis that would both quantify and visualize the terrain-related cost factors for the site. These factors included cost adders for grading, steel, tree-clearing, re-vegetations, pre-drill, hydrology (flood depth and scour) and terrain-related production losses. These underlying cost assumptions were then translated into raster-based formulas that could be incorporated into terrain-related total costs with LCOE adders to compare with a base LCOE estimate. This was then used to inform the SiTE™-Optimized PV array placement.

“KiloNewton was able to give us exactly what we wanted—terrain-based financial analytics to support de-risking our project and enabling us to make highly-informed design decision very early in the process. We have not worked with other engineering firms that drive this sort of developer-centric analysis.”

Leading Developer

Senior Manager, Development Engineering