Copper Mountain Solar 2

This substation project for utility Sempra U.S. Gas & Power in Boulder City, Nevada services an addition to one of the largest thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar energy plants in the U.S. In addition to the substation scope of work at the Copper Mountain Solar 2 site, Cupertino Electric installed a 230 kV transmission line spanning 1.5 miles to connect the solar farm’s substation with an existing Phase 1 solar substation.

CEI's services included:

• Designing and constructing 1.5 miles of 230 kV extension from Copper Mountain Solar 2 substation to PG&E's transmission infrastructure
• Providing engineering design and construction support of the new substation
• Performing site grounding, substation physical and bus work
• Installing HV transformer bay, control and protection and instrumentation wiring. Also, installing below-grade conduits and above-grade conduits and cable trench

To connect the solar farm to the grid, Cupertino Electric built the substation facilitates to deliver power from the solar modules to customers of utility PG&E, who is purchasing the power generated by the Copper Mountain Solar 2 site. Construction of the substation began in late 2011 was completed in the summer of 2012. After completing the second phase in 2015, the entire operating capacity totals 150 MW and generates enough energy to power 45,000 homes.