The Solar Star II Project, located in Kern County, California, is the second of two projects, alongside Solar Star I, which together form one of the world’s largest solar PV installations. Spanning 3,200 acres across Kern and Los Angeles counties, this project generates 276 megawatts of electricity using a single axis tracking system and is operated by SunPower Services. KWRE team members played a crucial role in this groundbreaking initiative, providing essential electrical engineering and interconnection support. As the Engineer of Record for the solar PV system, KWRE team members tackled numerous challenges, including managing different permit requirements across two counties, resolving transformer issues, and preventing wildlife interference with electrical components.
One of the significant challenges encountered during the Solar Star II Project was dealing with large ravens. These birds, with their wide wingspans, frequently built nests on the overhead lines, leading to short circuits when their wings contacted the conductors. To address this issue, KWRE team members implemented insulation on the power lines, effectively preventing the exposed conductors from causing electrical faults due to the ravens. This innovative solution ensured the reliability and safety of the solar power system while mitigating the impact on local wildlife.
KWRE team members also employed advanced electrical engineering tools and strategies to navigate these complexities, ensuring the project’s success. The team’s innovative solutions and coordination with multiple contractors led to the successful implementation of one of the world’s largest solar PV projects at its time of completion. The project not only set new standards for mega-scale solar farms but also contributed significantly to renewable energy production, underscoring KWRE’s commitment to pioneering sustainable energy solutions.
SOLAR STAR II
KERN COUNTY, CA