UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE
Serving North and South Carolina and Virginia

Transform your land into
revenue-generating sustainable infrastructure

SCALABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Utility-scale solar represents a critical shift from consumption-based energy to generation-based assets. Unlike standard commercial installations, these projects are designed for maximum yield and grid interoperability.

We deploy large-scale infrastructure capable of replacing legacy fossil-fuel generation, integrating advanced battery storage systems (BESS) to ensure consistent power delivery regardless of intermittency. This is not just about saving energy; it is about building a resilient, decentralized power grid.

UTility Scale Solar Project Phases

We handle the full spectrum of development, from initial interconnection agreements to third-party commissioning. Our process is built for speed, transparency, and rigid adherence to utility standards.

Phase 1: Solar Resource Assessment

Satellite data and software are used to measure irradiance (how much sunlight hits that specific spot) to predict energy yield.

Topographical Analysis: The land is surveyed. It must be relatively flat or have a manageable grade (slope) to accommodate racking systems.
Interconnection Study: This is often the most critical technical step. Engineers model the local electrical grid to ensure the substation and transmission lines can handle the new influx of power without becoming unstable.
Geotechnical Study: Soil samples are drilled to determine if the ground can hold the steel piles (posts) that support the panels.

Phase 2: Engineering & Design

Once the site is deemed viable, detailed technical blueprints are created.

PV System Layout: Creating a detailed CAD drawing of where every row of panels, inverter, and access road will go to maximize density while preventing panels from shading each other.
Structural Engineering: Designing the racking system This decision is usually between Fixed Tilt (stationary) or Single-Axis Trackers (panels that rotate to follow the sun) depending on the client’s needs.
Electrical Design (DC & AC):
- DC Design: Planning the wiring from the panels to the inverters.
AC Design: Planning the high-voltage wiring from the inverters to the project substation.

Phase 3: Construction

This is the physical build phase, which involves heavy civil and electrical work.

Civil Site Work: Grading the dirt, digging trenching for underground cables, and building access roads for heavy machinery.
Pile Driving: Using hydraulic pile drivers to hammer hundred or thousands of steel I-beams into the ground.
Racking & Module Installation: Bolting the metal racking onto the piles and securing the solar modules to the racks.
Inverter & Transformer Station Placement: Pouring concrete pads and setting the heavy equipment that converts the power from DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current).
Cable Termination: Electricians connect the thousands of miles of wire. This includes “homeruns” (wires from panel strings to combiner boxes) and medium-voltage cables (from inverters to the substation).

Phase 4: Commissioning & Energization

The system is built, but it must be safely integrated into the grid.

Cold Commissioning: Testing all circuits for continuity and insulation faults before the power is turned on, ensuring nothing is short-circuited.
Energization: Closing the breakers at the substation to let grid power flow into the site’s transformers for the first time.
Inverter Testing: Turning on inverters one by one to verify they are converting power correctly and communicating with the SCADA monitoring system.
Performance Testing: Running the plant at full power for a set period to prove it meets the guaranteed energy output.
Commercial Operation Date (COD): The official date the plant is certified to sell power to the utility.

TRUSTED BY The Region's TOP COMPANIES

WHY INSTALL Utility-Scale SOLAR PANELS

Utility-scale solar delivers affordable, reliable clean energy to entire communities, reduces carbon emissions, replaces fossil fuels, and supports local jobs — all while powering homes and businesses at scale.

Improved Grid Stability

Utility-scale solar improves grid stability by providing consistent, large-scale power generation and battery storage for energy during peak demand.

Get The Most Out Of Your Land

Utility-scale solar transforms underused land into revenue-generating, sustainable energy sites, maximizing land value while supporting clean power production for communities.

Offsetting Fossil Fuel Dependence

Utility-scale solar reduces fossil fuel dependence by generating large amounts of clean energy, directly replacing coal and gas on the power grid.

Long Solar Lifespan

Utility-scale solar projects use optimal locations and professional maintenance, reducing wear and maximizing efficiency, resulting in longer-lasting, higher-performing solar panels.

Benefit from grants and tax savings

Utility-scale solar offers significant tax benefits through federal incentives, depreciation advantages, and local tax credits, reducing costs and increasing returns for landowners and investors.

Energy Storage Integration

Utility-scale solar seamlessly integrates with large battery systems, storing excess energy for use during low-sun periods, ensuring consistent, reliable power delivery.

Get an idea of Utility-Scale Solar
costs for your area

See our Utility-Scale
solar panels IN ACTION

The New Era of
Mid-Scale Utility Solar Execution

The era of the traditional, lumbering large-scale EPC is ending. With the shifting landscape of solar tax credits and the new realities of the market, the “bigger is better” model no longer creates efficiency for projects in the 2MW to 10MW range. Large EPCs, built to service 30+ MW sites, cannot scale their overhead down to make mid-scale projects viable.

At 8MSolar, we don’t force large-scale bloat onto mid-scale sites. We have transposed the hyper-efficient project methods from our Residential and CNI verticals directly into the utility space. This allows us to deliver interconnection-ready assets with a speed and cost structure that traditional EPCs simply cannot match.

Why we are the #1 Utility-Scale Solar Company

Frequently asked QUESTIONS

What areas do you serve?

We provide residential and commercial solar panel installation services all across The Triangle in North Carolina and Virginia, including:

How do you calculate my commercial energy savings?

Some energy companies in North Carolina charge customers a blended rate that comes from dividing the amount due on your bill by the total kilowatt-hour consumption during the billing period. These blended rates give an accurate ROI estimation in theory, but they fail to account for seasonal demand.

At 8MSolar, we don’t use blended rates when calculating the financial impact of your solar energy system because it artificially inflates your ROI. Instead, we take all measures to produce accurate, verifiable numbers, so you can take our ROI estimate to the bank, literally.

What type of solar panels can you install?

We install three types of panels for businesses:

Monocrystalline: These panels offer maximum efficiency and durability
Polycrystalline: These panels are innovative and very cost-effective
Thin-film: These panels are ideal for high-volume rooftop installations

Do I qualify for tax credits for installing solar panels at my business?

Commercial solar energy systems provide excellent tax benefits that can reduce your commercial solar panel cost. According to the IRS Notice # 2018-59, any commercial solar panel system put into service by Dec 31st, 2023 and meets one of the following requirements is eligible for the full 26% federal tax credit:

Installed in 2020, 2021 or 2022
Showing “physical work of a significant nature”
Meets the “5% safe harbor test”

What is the overall process?

How do you install rooftop-mounted solar panels?

We typically install commercial solar systems on rooftops of buildings that are almost always flat or have limited pitch. Using expert knowledge of the geographic area, we can design the array pitch angle to make sure it is producing optimal energy.
Commercial solar system installations also have different mounting mechanisms than traditional homes. Commercial solar panels have different clamp-on-type bases that we specifically design for flat/metal roofs.
The solar panels we use in most commercial applications are 72 cell panels, which is much larger than the traditional 60 cell modules we use in residential systems and have a higher power output – typically 350 watts per panel.
Rapid shutdown capabilities that bring the DC voltage down to an inherently safe level are required in NC. Our engineers will help you design a system that meets those requirements.

How do you install ground-mounted solar panels?

Ground-mounted systems are a great alternative for businesses that don’t have roofs suitable for solar panels but have significant amounts of land available. This system also works well if your company’s solar needs cannot be met by their current roof size.
Using expert geographical knowledge, our engineers can choose the optimal placement of your panels. They will test things like ground compaction to make sure we choose the proper equipment to avoid any geological problems that may arise.
There are two types of ground-mounted solar panels. Pole-mounted panels are elevated off the ground and sometimes use tracking systems to tilt them toward the sun. Standard mounted solar panels have metal framing that we drive into the ground to keep them at a chosen angle.

Ready to see how much You Can Do
by installing Utility-Scale Solar Panels?

Other Commercial Solar Case Studies

Related Case Studies

All

Case Study: ROI Revolution Helps Protect the Planet

December 29, 2020

Solar Panel Case Study - College Park Baptist

Case Study: College Park Baptist Church’s Environmental Stewardship

December 29, 2020

Transform your land into
revenue-generating sustainable infrastructure

SCALABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE