Northern Sun Energy, a Florida based EPC firm for utility-scale solar and battery storage, has begun construction on two solar-plus-storage projects in Swansea, Massachusetts, for developer GeoFire Solar. Together the community solar projects pair 11.5 MW (DC) of PV with 10 MWh of battery storage, and both will take part in the state's SMART 3.0 solar incentive program.

Both sites use DC-coupled BESS. An AC-coupled battery converts electricity three times before it reaches consumers, with losses at each step. A DC-coupled battery takes power from the panels in its original DC form and needs a single DC/AC conversion, which limits those losses.

The Jinko DC battery configurations required fire code compliance, independent third-party inspections and rigorous O&M standards. Northern Sun worked with equipment integrators and engineers from the design phase to settle DC-coupling decisions, protection coordination and battery siting before construction. The other equipment partners are ReneSola for panels, APA for fixed-tilt racking and SMA for inverters.

"Getting a DC-coupled battery project right means collaborating closely with all stakeholders and regulators before you break ground," said Chris Balogh, Vice President and cofounder of Northern Sun Energy. "At Swansea, we engaged AHJs and third-party reviewers well ahead of permit submission, coordinating Emergency Response Plans and site-specific hazard analyses with local fire departments and independent safety reviewers early on."

"Northern Sun has been a fantastic partner for these projects," said Zach Grabill, president of GeoFire Solar. "They're proactive and thorough in everything they do, and committed to timeliness and professionalism."

Northern Sun Energy provides turnkey engineering, procurement and construction services for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects and cites more than 2 GW of collective industry experience across its team.