By 2030, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels will be generating more electricity than the entire U.S. power system does at this very moment, the International Energy Agency predicts. Today’s push towards a greener future has been bolstered by policy shifts across the globe designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. In the United States, a leading goal of the federal government’s sustainability plan is to achieve 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030. The demand for renewable energy infrastructure is at an all-time high, and Sundt is proud to be on the frontlines of delivering utility-scale solar and energy storage projects for a more sustainable future.
In 2020, Sundt acquired i1 Energy, which led to the development of Sundt Renewables. The Renewables team, led by President Tom Dodson, has evolved from a small group of seven to a team of over 30 employee-owners who have procured over $700 million in work – all in under four years.
POSITIONING SUNDT AS SOLAR EXPERTS
The early success of the Renewables Group has established Sundt as a leader in the solar industry, specifically, large-scale PV solar. This highly knowledgeable team brings a wealth of experience that sets us apart from the competition.
“Sundt Renewables’ mission is to make our clients’ lives easier,” Tom said. “We care about keeping people and the environment safe, and we work with stakeholders to solve problems. If something isn’t going as planned, we jump in and come up with innovations and solutions to keep the momentum going. That’s why our clients trust us to deliver every time.”
“There’s a difference between the contractors who know the market and know how to build versus the contractors who only know how to build,” explained Operations Manager Chris Steves. “Our team understands the market really well. We can help the owners of these projects not only understand what they want, but what their customers want, what their financiers will finance, what their insurers will insure and so on.”
Beyond their expertise in construction, Renewables serves as a linchpin in every facet of a large-scale PV solar project. It begins with a clear understanding of the engineering, design and site specifications including permitting and geographical considerations. Experts from the Renewables team then employ proven procurement strategies, leveraging long-standing relationships with vendors to ensure the acquisition of high-quality equipment within budget. Their profound understanding of the project’s entirety ensures seamless integration of the PV modules, inverters and the electrical infrastructure required for a functioning, reliable plant. Sundt Renewables’ holistic approach and complete knowledge of the project lifecycles appeals to both current and prospective clients, enhancing our competitiveness and bolstering our project profile.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE INDUSTRY
The Renewables Group has also helped Sundt establish and nurture key partnerships. An example of Renewables’ strong client relationships is with rPlus Energies, a major renewable energy development company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first project to come out of this partnership was Graphite Solar, a 104-megawatt direct current (MWdc) utility-scale solar project in Carbon County, Utah. The Renewables team has now successfully delivered two projects for rPlus, with a third expected to be complete later this year and a fourth beginning now. The most recent project is one of the largest single, contiguous PV facilities in the U.S., as well as the largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installation in North America.
A unique facet of the project was the opportunity to support the education of local students. Sundt Renewables, along with partners rPlus Energies and Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, were able to provide eight Carbon County university students with Local First Scholarships. These scholarships cover full tuition and fees for all certificate programs or the first year of degree programs up to $5,000. This program is intended to help students advance their education and open the door to new possibilities within their community. This has now become a tradition on projects with rPlus, and Sundt has now contributed over $100,000 to the scholarship program, matched by rPlus, and other project parties that have participated in various projects to date.
“We’re always happy to partner with our local communities and support them in ways that promote growth and prosperity now and for future generations, whether we’re building clean and sustainable power plants or contributing to local students’ education goals,” said Tom.
Since the successful completion of Graphite, Renewables has won three more projects with rPlus: Appaloosa I (a 240 MWdc plant), Green River Energy Center (a 540MWdc plant with a battery storage component) in Utah, and Pleasant Valley Solar (a 260 MW plant) in Idaho.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
With these successes under their belts, the Renewables team is just getting started. Alongside the four projects for rPlus, Renewables has completed a 398 MWdc plant in Utah and is currently building a 350 MWdc utility scale plant in New Mexico for a global investment and technology development firm.