This week we’ve had an exciting week of discovery! Last week’s site visit gave the team a lot to think about and we have been hard at work.

We have discovered that our project’s solution revolves around two key parameters: grounding and lightning strikes. These elements are like the dynamic duo of solar site protection. Grounding, influenced by soil composition, and lightning strikes, dictated by geographical factors, are crucial in shaping our model. We’ve devised a system of dual ratings that will inform future sites on how to safeguard against grounding issues and lightning strikes. Thus we have come up with two options for our lightning protection model. The second option introduces a third output that combines the grounding and lightning ratings to determine the cost of implementing protective measures. This added dimension will reveal whether building on a site is a cost-effective endeavor, ensuring that NextEra’s solar sites are not just safe but also financially sound.

Above are the different model options. The diagrams represent the logic behind how the model will work.

But here’s where it gets even more exciting. Sarah and Sasha, our dynamic duo of data analysis, have rolled up their sleeves and started testing soil samples from a solar site in sunny Florida. Their mission? To see if the online data for soil parameters matches the real deal. To kick things off, they dried out 18 samples in an oven. Now, they’re using Sieve Shakers to determine the diameter of the soil particles and, in turn, their texture – whether it’s sand, clay, or silt. By calculating the percentage of each texture, they can identify the specific type of soil. Stay tuned for updates next week, to see if the data matches data online. We are excited to see what is coming next!

Sarah standing in front of the sieve that was used for soil sampling. The different bins have varies diameters. They are weighed to determine the percentage of soil in each bin, thus corresponding to the particles diameters.