Lockhart 3 and 4 Solar

CEI served as the prime engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Lockhart 3 and 4 solar projects in Hinkley, California. The project included installation of 483,630 photovoltaic modules and supporting infrastructure for a 258 MWdc utility-scale solar facility.

CEI’s scope included civil work, pile installation, racking systems, module installation, direct current systems, medium-voltage infrastructure, meteorological stations and inverter equipment. The project followed CEI’s earlier work on the Lockhart 1 and 2 solar facilities, where the team installed more than 450,000 modules in 2023.

The Lockhart 3 site presented significant hydrological challenges due to its proximity to watercourses, wetlands and areas prone to seasonal flooding. A comprehensive 100-year flood analysis was conducted to evaluate potential flood impacts and guide design decisions related to pile depth, elevation and site grading to ensure long-term system resilience. In some areas, pile reveal heights reached up to 8 feet to keep solar arrays above potential flood levels. These represent some of the tallest pile reveals CEI has encountered on a utility-scale solar project and introduced logistical and safety challenges during module installation.

To address these conditions, CEI utilized robotic module-handling equipment to support crews installing panels at elevated reveal locations. This approach improved installation efficiency while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.