Long Island Solar Farm

COMPLETED: November 2011
CLIENT: BP Solar

Project Summary

LISF is one of the largest single solar electric installations in the Americas. The 37MWp photovoltaic system will feed power directly into the Long Island Power Authority utility grid (operated by National Grid) and will power local businesses, neighborhoods and cities.

Blue Oak Energy Scope

Full scope engineering and overall project engineer of record for complete construction documents. Blue Oak Energy also performed construction administration and management for the project’s construction phases.

Project Goals

The 2002 State Energy Plan required that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) examine the feasibility of establishing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). NYSERDA found that an RPS has the potential to improve energy security and help diversify the state’s electricity generation mix. New York State has now implemented an RPS program that requires electric service providers to increase percentage of total procurement from eligible renewable energy resources to 29% by 2015. Because this project was above the 20MW Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) size limit for small generation systems, the project was required to meet the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) interconnection standards and control requirements.

System Specifications

Key Features

• 1000V “behind the fence” DC System
• The 13.8 kV collector system aggregates 25 each 1.25 MVA inverter stations to a 69-kV substation.
• Array follows site topography – northing, easting, and elevation specified for each pile.
• The 69kV interconnection conductors cross under Long Island Railroad. A permit was required for this special crossing.
• Sophisticated SCADA and instrumentation package.
• Extensive wildlife and wetland mitigation.