Solar Utility Power Plants

What is Utility-Scale Solar Feasibility?

Utility-scale solar feasibility is an in-depth technical and commercial evaluation of proposed ground-mounted solar power plant sites. These studies analyze solar resource potential, area requirements, grid connectivity options, constraints, regulatory requirements, and technical design parameters to determine whether a site can support a viable utility-scale solar project. Unlike rooftop feasibility, utility projects involve complex land use considerations, high-voltage grid integration, and larger capital investments requiring rigorous due diligence.

Why Professional Site Assessment is Critical

Utility-scale solar projects represent multi-million dollar investments with 25-30 year operational lifespans. Site selection and assessment errors can result in permanently suboptimal performance, expensive grid connection costs that impact project economics, environmental or permitting barriers, land issues that create legal complications, and technical constraints that limit plant capacity or output.

Our feasibility studies have helped clients across the region develop viable projects.. We’ve assessed sites for major industrial players including utilities, industrial plants, mining operations, desalination plants and logistics facilities seeking to develop captive solar power plants for energy cost reduction and sustainability goals.

Our Utility Solar Site Assessment Process

Desktop Feasibility Analysis
Before conducting site visits, we perform comprehensive desktop assessments using satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), meteorological databases, and publicly available technical data.

Solar Resource Assessment
We analyze historical solar irradiation data using databases like NASA, Meteonorm, or Solargis to determine site-specific global horizontal irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI), and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI). We evaluate seasonal variations, inter-annual variability, soiling potential from dust storms, and comparison against regional benchmarks.

For MENA region projects, we assess how factors like desert dust, humidity from coastal locations, and temperature extremes affect solar generation potential. Sites with high GHI but extreme soiling may perform worse than moderate GHI sites with cleaner conditions.

Land Area and Topography Analysis
Using satellite imagery and digital elevation models, we assess available land area, topographical characteristics, slope and grading requirements and optimal panel layout configurations.

Preliminary Grid Analysis
We identify nearby transmission and distribution infrastructure, assess distance to potential interconnection points, evaluate existing grid capacity and constraints, and identify competing generation projects in queue.

Environmental Screening
Desktop assessment identifies potential environmental constraints including protected areas or ecological sensitivity, archaeological or cultural heritage sites, water bodies or wetlands, endangered species habitats, and historical land use or contamination issues.

Early identification of environmental barriers prevents investment in sites with insurmountable permitting challenges.

On-Site Technical Assessment
Following favorable desktop analysis, we conduct detailed site visits to validate assumptions and gather ground-truth data.

Detailed Solar Resource Measurement
For large projects, we may recommend installing on-site meteorological stations to collect site-specific irradiance, temperature, wind speed, and humidity data over 6-12 months. This data provides more accurate solar resource assessment than modeled satellite data, particularly for sites with unique microclimates.

We also assess site-specific factors affecting solar production including shading from nearby structures or terrain, atmospheric conditions (dust, humidity, pollution), albedo effects from ground surface types, and micro-climate variations across large sites.

Geotechnical Investigation Planning
We coordinate preliminary geotechnical assessments including soil sampling and classification, bearing capacity analysis, groundwater table depth, rock outcrop identification, seismic risk assessment, and foundation design requirements.

Soil conditions dramatically affect foundation costs. Rocky terrain requiring pile drilling or weak soils needing extensive foundations significantly impact project economics.

Land Survey and Boundaries
We verify legal land boundaries against satellite imagery, confirm available contiguous land area, identify encroachments or unauthorized uses, assess access road adequacy, and determine fencing and security requirements.

Land boundary disputes discovered late in development cause major delays and legal costs. Early verification protects project timelines.

Environmental Site Inspection
On-site environmental assessment includes flora and fauna surveys, water resources and drainage patterns, evidence of protected species, air quality baseline conditions, and noise level measurements.

Unexpected environmental sensitivities found during permitting can halt projects. Thorough early assessment mitigates this risk.

Grid Interconnection Feasibility
Utility solar projects require sophisticated grid integration analysis, distinguishing them from simple rooftop installations.

Transmission Infrastructure Assessment
We evaluate nearest suitable grid interconnection points, available capacity at potential connection points, voltage level requirements (11kV, 33kV, 132kV, 400kV), transmission line route options and distances, and existing grid congestion or constraints.

Connection to weak grid points with insufficient capacity requires expensive grid reinforcement that developers may need to fund—potentially making projects unviable.

Utility Coordination
We initiate preliminary discussions with relevant utilities including distribution companies (DISCOS), transmission system operators (TSOs), and national grid operators to understand interconnection procedures and timelines, available grid capacity and study requirements, interconnection cost estimates, and grid code technical requirements.

Early utility engagement identifies show-stoppers before significant investment occurs.

Grid Impact Studies Planning
We outline requirements for grid impact studies including load flow analysis requirements, short circuit analysis needs, voltage stability assessment, harmonics and power quality studies, and protection coordination requirements.

These studies, typically required by utilities, determine whether grid reinforcements are necessary and who bears those costs.

Technical Design Parameters Definition
Based on site assessment findings, we establish optimal technical design parameters.

System Sizing and Layout
We determine optimal plant capacity considering available land area, solar resource quality, grid interconnection capacity, internal consumption requirements (for captive plants), and phase development strategy.

We develop preliminary layout configurations using fixed-tilt, single-axis tracking, or dual-axis tracking systems based on cost-benefit analysis specific to site conditions.

Technology Selection Recommendations
We recommend appropriate technologies including solar panel technology (monocrystalline, bifacial, thin-film), mounting structure type (fixed tilt vs. tracking systems), inverter topology (string, central, or hybrid), transformer and switchgear specifications, and monitoring and SCADA system architecture.

Technology selection significantly impacts both capital costs and long-term performance. Our recommendations balance proven reliability with cost-effectiveness.

Performance Modeling
We develop detailed energy yield models using industry-standard software (PVsyst, SAM, or similar) including hourly generation profiles, first-year energy yield estimates, degradation modeling over plant life, performance ratio (PR) expectations, and sensitivity analysis for key variables.

Accurate performance modeling is essential for financial projections and securing project financing. We use conservative assumptions that projects consistently meet or exceed.

Site-Specific Challenge Assessment

Desert Environment Considerations
Desert sites offer excellent solar resources but present unique operational challenges requiring specific design provisions.For MENA region projects, we specifically assess desert-specific challenges including sand dune encroachment risks, extreme temperature effects on equipment, dust storm frequency and soiling rates, water scarcity for panel cleaning, and wildlife interactions.

Coastal Location Factors
For sites near coasts, we evaluate salt spray corrosion risks requiring upgraded materials, high humidity effects on equipment, potential cyclone or storm surge exposure, restricted areas for defense or maritime activities, and enhanced cooling needs for equipment.

Industrial Site Integration
When assessing utility solar for industrial facility integration, we analyze facility electrical load profiles, behind-the-meter integration opportunities, process interruption risks and uptime requirements, plant expansion plans affecting long-term load, and synergies with waste heat or cogeneration systems.

Regulatory and Permitting Feasibility

Environmental Permitting Requirements
We identify required environmental impact assessments (EIA), endangered species consultation requirements, water use permits if needed, air quality permits for construction, and archaeological survey requirements.

Utility and Energy Regulatory Requirements
We assess generation licensing requirements, power purchase agreement (PPA) regulations, net metering or feed-in tariff eligibility, renewable energy certificates (RECs) programs, and local content or employment requirements.

Different MENA countries have vastly different regulatory frameworks. Our regional expertise navigates these variations effectively.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Technical Risks
We identify and assess risks including solar resource uncertainty and inter-annual variability, equipment performance and reliability risks, grid stability and curtailment risks, technology obsolescence over 25+ year lifetime, and operation and maintenance challenges.

Development Risks
Development risk assessment covers land acquisition or lease complications, permitting delays or rejection risks, community opposition issues, grid connection cost escalation, and utility interconnection timeline uncertainty.

Financial Risks
We evaluate financial risk factors including capital cost estimation uncertainty, operating cost projection risks, revenue risks from electricity pricing changes, currency exchange risks for international projects, and financing availability and terms.

Deliverables in Feasibility Reports

Executive Summary

• Site viability assessment and recommendations
• Key technical parameters and performance projections
• Major risks and mitigation strategies
• Go/no-go recommendation with rationale

Technical Assessment

• Solar resource analysis with long-term projections
• Site layout and capacity optimization
• Technology recommendations
• Energy yield modeling results
• Grid interconnection feasibility

Commercial Overview

• Capital cost estimates
• Operating cost projections
• Revenue scenarios and electricity pricing assumptions
• High-level financial metrics

Risk Register

• Technical, development, and financial risks
• Risk severity and probability assessment
• Mitigation strategies and contingency plans

Development Roadmap

• Recommended project development phases
• Critical path activities and timelines
• Key milestones and decision points
• Resource requirements

Why Choose Clenergize for Utility Solar Feasibility?

With experience across the MENA region spanning over 1200MW of solar projects, our team has conducted feasibility studies for numerous utility-scale sites. We’ve helped clients avoid costly mistakes by identifying flaws early while optimizing viable sites for maximum performance and returns.

Our multi-disciplinary team includes solar engineers, electrical engineers specializing in high-voltage systems, civil and structural engineers, environmental specialists, and regulatory experts with deep knowledge of MENA energy markets and regulations.

Project Timeline and Investment

Comprehensive utility solar feasibility studies typically require 4-8 weeks depending on project scale and complexity. Desktop assessment alone may take 1-2 weeks for preliminary go/no-go decisions before committing to detailed site investigation.

Investment in professional feasibility studies represents a small fraction of total project costs but can save significant amounts by avoiding problematic sites or optimizing viable ones. This due diligence is essential for securing project financing and investor confidence.

Getting Started

Early-stage project evaluation requires basic information including proposed site location and available land area, target plant capacity or investment budget, intended use (captive consumption, merchant sale, grid export), project timeline expectations, and preliminary financial objectives.

Contact Clenergize Consultants today to initiate your utility-scale solar feasibility study. Our comprehensive assessment provides the technical foundation for confident investment decisions and successful project development in the dynamic MENA solar energy market.