08/03/2026
The PPC Team has been at the White Sands Missile Range working on a utility-scale “repower” project.
Repower projects extend the service life of aging utility-scale systems. While solar modules have a 25-30 year warranty (and even longer actual lifespan), other components such as inverters or trackers can eventually break down. At White Sands we are replacing the defunct 625 kW Satcon central inverters with smaller, lighter, and more efficient 62 kW SMA CORE1 inverters. Additionally we’re anchoring the trackers to be south facing, which will reduce tracker maintenance, improve the energy yield, make it more predictable, and lower operating costs.
This project involves a variety of high voltage electrical components. Utilizing electromagnetic detection and AML line locating, our crew is working with over 3,000 linear feet of trenching across many acres with direct-bury wires, making it necessary to hydro-vac at all wire crossings to avoid damaging underground conductors.
Summertime desert projects present unique challenges. Our team has been pushing forward in daytime temperatures consistently over 100 degrees, while accompanied by a plethora of critters like rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widows. We’ve implemented New Mexico’s new guidelines for working when the heat index is high, and PPC maintains a strong focus on healthy work habits to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration in the field. As a government and
military project there are stringent security and safety requirements, which have enhanced PPC’s employee training and documentation program, including certifications and record keeping to meet OSHA standards.
