About this course

This course focuses on development in utility-scale solar - the phase where a project goes from a pin on a map to a shovel in the ground, and where the commercial, legal, and technical foundation for everything that follows gets built.

Development carries more speculative risk than any other phase of a solar project. Most projects that enter development never get built. The capital deployed is largely at risk until financial close. The decisions made during development - about land, about where to connect to the grid, about permitting strategy, about when and how to exit - shape the project's economics and risk profile for its entire operating life. And yet development is one of the least formally taught disciplines in the industry. Most practitioners learn it by doing it, often on projects where the consequences of getting it wrong are measured in years and millions of dollars. I'll be drawing on my experience across more than 2 gigawatts of utility-scale solar to give you a practical framework for development from first principles - what needs to happen, in what order, and why.

In our first lesson, we'll establish what solar development actually is - how long it takes, who's involved, how developers make money, the three ownership models, and what kills most projects before they reach construction.

In our second lesson, we'll cover land control - the foundation everything else is built on. Option agreements, lease structure, encumbrances, ALTA surveys, mineral rights, and why landowner relationships can make or break a project at the permit stage.

In our third lesson, we'll go deep on permitting and environmental - the layered federal, state, and local agency landscape, the full suite of environmental studies required, the conditional use permit process, community engagement, and the responsibility split between developer and EPC.

In our fourth lesson, we'll cover interconnection - the dominant risk in US solar development today. How the queue works, the three-study process, network upgrade costs, FERC Order 2023, and the decisions that lock in permanently at the point of filing.

In our fifth lesson, we'll cover project finance and economics - the capital stack, tax equity, the Investment Tax Credit and its current policy status, ITC safe harbor, financing readiness gates, PPA structure, energy yield modelling, and the financial metrics lenders and investors actually use.

In our sixth and final lesson, we'll cover the EPC handoff and development close-out - what the EPC actually receives, how EPC selection works, the lump-sum turnkey contract, the LNTP and FNTP milestone framework, the Owner's Rep versus Owner's Engineer distinction, common handoff failure modes, and why lessons learned discipline is one of the most valuable habits a development organisation can build.

This course is for anyone working in or around utility-scale solar who wants to understand what happens before construction begins. Whether you're in project management, construction, finance, land, or just starting out in the industry - a solid understanding of the development process will make you significantly more effective at every stage of a project's life.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the solar development lifecycle, describe the three ownership models, and identify the key players and workstreams that take a project from site identification to financial close.
  • Describe how land control is established, explain the key terms in option and lease agreements, and identify the title and encumbrance issues that can affect a project's viability and financing.
  • Navigate the federal, state, and local permitting landscape, identify the environmental studies required and their seasonal dependencies, and explain the responsibility split between developer and EPC.
  • Explain the interconnection study process, describe the decisions that lock in at queue entry, and identify the strategies used to manage network upgrade cost risk and queue position.
  • Describe the capital stack for a utility-scale solar project, explain how tax equity and the ITC work, and apply the financing readiness gate framework to development-stage decision-making.
  • Explain what the EPC receives at handoff, distinguish between the Owner's Representative and Owner's Engineer, and describe the contract provisions and documentation practices that define a successful development-to-construction transition.

Course outline

8 modules
3 - 4 hours to complete
2:02 hours of video lectures
Welcome • 2 assignments
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.

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Module 1 • 5 assignments
The Development Landscape

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Module 2 • 7 assignments
Land Control and Real Estate

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Module 3 • 5 assignments
Permitting and Environmental

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Module 4 • 5 assignments
Interconnection

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Module 5 • 5 assignments
Project Finance and Economics

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Module 6 • 4 assignments
EPC Handoff and Development Close Out

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Conclusion • 4 assignments
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!

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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?
You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. 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. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. 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 get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. 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.

$295

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