Basics of Commissioning on Utility-Scale Solar

About this course

This course focuses on commissioning in utility-scale solar - the phase where a construction site becomes a power plant, and where everything that was designed, procured and built is finally tested against reality.

Commissioning carries more schedule and commercial risk than any other phase of a solar project. Defects discovered during commissioning fix slowly and cost more than defects caught during construction. Liquidated damages provisions mean every day of delay has a real dollar value attached to it. The utility, the owner's engineer, the lender's engineer and the equipment vendors all converge on the project at the same time. And yet commissioning is one of the least formally documented phases in the industry - most practitioners learn it by doing it, often by making expensive mistakes on live projects. I'll be drawing on my experience across more than 2 gigawatts of utility-scale solar construction to give you a structured framework for commissioning from the EPC perspective - what needs to happen, in what order, and why.

In our first lesson, we'll establish exactly what commissioning is - a precise definition, the three distinct phases within what people loosely call commissioning, where it sits in the project lifecycle, and why it carries the most commercial risk of any project phase.

In our second lesson, we'll build out the commissioning team - the commissioning manager, engineers and technicians, how the construction and commissioning organizations interface, and how to manage the owner's engineer, lender's engineer and vendor representatives effectively.

In our third lesson, we'll go through pre-commissioning checks in detail - the systematic verification work that happens before any equipment is energized. String testing, combiner checks, inverter pre-commissioning, MV transformer and cable testing, protection relay wiring verification, mechanical checks and grounding. We'll also cover the ITP and punch list management.

In our fourth lesson, we'll work through the energization sequence and electrical commissioning - safety management, the grid-inward energization sequence, substation and interconnection commissioning, inverter startup, protection relay testing and SCADA commissioning.

In our fifth lesson, we'll cover performance testing and acceptance - the Performance Ratio, capacity testing, PR monitoring, availability testing, grid compliance testing, and the acceptance milestones that structure the formal transition from EPC to owner.

In our sixth and final lesson, we'll cover documentation, turnover and closeout - what a complete handover package looks like, how to train the O&M team, financial closeout, warranty period management and lessons learned.

This course is essential for anyone involved in the delivery of utility-scale solar projects. Whether you're a project manager, commissioning manager, site engineer, construction superintendent or field engineer - a structured understanding of commissioning will make you significantly more effective at the most critical phase of any solar project.

Subjects covered

Solar Electrical Construction Utility Interconnection Utility-Scale Safety & Compliance Trade Skills Jobsite Safety Continuing Education

Learning Objectives

Explain what commissioning is, identify the three distinct phases within it, and describe why it carries more commercial and schedule risk than any other project phase.
Describe the roles within a commissioning team and explain how to manage the interfaces between the construction organization, owner's engineer, lender's engineer, and vendor representatives.
Execute pre-commissioning checks and apply ITP and punch list management to track completion.
Implement the grid-inward energization sequence and describe the safety management, protection relay testing, and SCADA commissioning steps required during electrical commissioning.
Interpret Performance Ratio and capacity test results to evaluate whether a project meets the acceptance milestones required for formal transition from EPC to owner.
Assemble a complete handover package and describe the documentation, O&M training, warranty management, and financial closeout steps required to close out a utility-scale solar project.

Course outline

8 modules

2 hours to complete

1. Orientation Materials

This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

2. What is Commissioning?

3. The Commissioning Team

4. Pre-Commissioning Checks & Inspections

5. Energization & Electrical Commissioning

6. Performance Testing & Acceptance

7. Documentation, Turnover & Closeout

8. Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

Instructor

Andy Nyce

Sr. Director of Project Management, Erthos Inc.

I'm Andy Nyce - originally from New Zealand, but I've spent the last nine years in the United States in a range of engineering, construction, project management and quality control roles in the large scale renewables industry. I've been directly involved in over 2GW of execution at every level of installation, management and commissioning. I'm currently the Sr. Director...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ

How does this course work?

This course is delivered entirely online. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.

How long do I have access to the materials?

Students can pre-order but will not be able to access the full course materials or earn a certificate of completion until the course is fully published. Once the course is published any students who have pre-ordered will then have access to the course materials for one year (365 days). After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.

Will the instructor really answer my questions during this course?

Yes! This is an instructor-led online course. You can ask questions on the discussion board and get prompt answers from your instructor. It varies by instructor and by course but typically instructors check-in between daily and weekly to check quiz results or project work, review and respond to discussion board questions and read survey responses. Check the enrollment page for specific information about each instructor's check-in frequency.

Is there a certificate of completion?

Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.

Can I register multiple people?

Yes, please visit our For Teams page to get a group discount.

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