Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI), an EPC company for solar and battery storage, has completed a 3.37-megawatt DC sapphire solar project in Jefferson County, New York.

Shallow bedrock and high groundwater table pose site challenges that require the team to adjust their design during construction. During the excavation process, DEI encountered shale bedrock only 16 to 20 feet below ground level in multiple areas of the site, while groundwater continued to infiltrate open trenches. These conditions have affected the installation and equipment cushion areas, making the initial design of underground DC cable conduits difficult to implement.

DEI's engineering, construction, procurement, and contracting teams worked closely together to quickly develop a revised design that converted some of the DC underground range into a surface CAB system. Underground excavation has been preserved at inter row intersections and other still applicable locations. The revised design also retains the on-site access required for long-term operation and maintenance by the owner.

The complete redesign, material procurement, and on-site implementation were all completed within the originally planned scope of the underground trench project.

When we encounter unexpected challenges, our goal is to quickly solve the problem and adjust our methods based on the site conditions to find the most suitable solution for the location, "said Rusfid Haroon, Senior Project Manager at DEI