The Critical Role of Constructability in Renewable Energy Projects

Constructability refers to the overall ease and efficiency with which a project can be built. This directly influences both the speed of construction, and the cost required to complete the project. It encompasses various aspects of design, planning, procurement, and execution to ensure the project can be built effectively, safely, and within budget and timeline constraints.

The Importance of Constructability in Solar and Battery Storage Projects

When it comes to solar and battery storage projects, constructability should be considered as early as the site acquisition stage. Typically, during this phase, developers identify a potential land parcel and create a preliminary layout to assess site capacity, estimate annual energy production, and gauge interconnection feasibility using the limited information available. While this is a crucial first step, constructability concerns are often overlooked or insufficiently analyzed. This can lead to projects with critical constructability challenges advancing through the development process—resulting in wasted time and money on projects with a low likelihood of successful execution.

The Camelot Energy team has extensive experience in development, engineering, procurement, and construction, allowing us to help owners and developers identify and address constructability concerns early in a project’s lifecycle. By doing so, we help mitigate late-stage issues, ensuring smoother project execution. This article is the first in a series on "Constructability," where the Camelot team will highlight common challenges and showcase solutions that enable seamless project development and construction.

The Ups and Downs of Topography in Renewable Energy Projects

One of the most common constructability issues we encounter during the development and construction phases is inadequate attention to topography. The terrain of a project site significantly impacts design feasibility, energy production estimates, and overall constructability.

Why Topography Matters

Most preliminary project layouts are created using publicly available data, which typically provides only 5’ or 10’ contour intervals. While this offers a rough idea of site conditions, it lacks the precision needed to fully de-risk a project. This limitation is particularly problematic for sites with complex terrain, dense forestation, or proximity to floodplains.

For such projects, hiring a professional survey company to conduct a detailed topographic survey (with 2’ contour intervals or finer) is essential. This data enables developers and engineers to validate site conditions accurately and plan accordingly.

Using Topography Data in Project Design and Development

Once a detailed topographic survey is completed, the preliminary layout—including solar arrays, battery storage units, access roads, fencing, and equipment pads—should be incorporated into computer-aided design (CAD) software. By integrating this data into the design, engineers can assess site suitability and proactively address constructability challenges.

At this stage, a slope analysis should be conducted to identify areas of concern. This analysis requires input from multiple disciplines, including civil, structural, and electrical engineers, construction professionals, and racking vendors. Collaboration ensures that all aspects of the project are evaluated, and risks are mitigated early.

Key Topography Considerations for Constructability

Civil Design

• Grading requirements to meet design standards

• Stormwater management and hydrology considerations

• Access road construction feasibility

• Equipment pad locations and elevation planning

Structural Design

• Vendor-specific racking slope tolerances

• Structural calculations for stability and safety

• Accommodation of varying site elevations

Electrical Design

• Trenching and underground conductor runs

• Placement of medium-voltage poles and guy wires for overhead lines

• Routing and protection of underground cables

Construction Considerations

• Water management strategies during construction

• Temporary erosion control measures

• Site layout for construction staging areas

• Placement of office trailers and parking zones

Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Planning

• Long-term vegetation management strategies

• Ongoing erosion control measures

Why Early Topographic Analysis is Essential

Topography sets the foundation for every aspect of a renewable energy project—it is the building block of successful development and project design. Identifying and addressing topographic challenges early minimizes risks, helps maintain budget and schedule discipline, and ensures that project goals are met. By taking a proactive approach, developers can avoid costly redesigns, permitting delays, and unexpected construction obstacles.

Looking Ahead

This article is just the beginning of our series on constructability. In upcoming articles, we will dive deeper into other critical factors affecting constructability, including geotechnical challenges, interconnection hurdles, and procurement risks. Stay tuned for more constructability insights from the Camelot Energy Group!