Innovation and operational excellence
Maximizing value for our partners
As a leading utility-scale solar company, Lightsource bp is committed to delivering best-in-class utility-scale solar and energy storage projects to our partners, and then ensuring we maximize profitability and performance over the life of each project. We integrate in-house development, engineering, asset financing, and operational management to optimize competitiveness and capture maximum value throughout each stage in the lifecycle of our clean energy projects. Our management services are a critical pillar to the success of our develop-own-operate model and provides a feedback loop for continual improvement.
Our commitment to innovation
As a developer, owner and operator of large-scale solar projects across the globe, Lightsource bp believes in the centrality of innovation in driving better outcomes for our business. To that end, seasoned professionals Chris Buckland, Lightsource bp Technical Director, and Kevin Christy, Head of Innovation & Operational Excellence, Americas, and their teams have launched and are managing a range of innovative projects both on our own and in collaboration with others.
Hail Mitigation
Our team in the US has developed a highly effective method of bolstering the defenses of 100% of our US solar plants and construction sites against potentially damaging hail. This effort combines systematic hail risk monitoring and assessment by our operational team with an internally developed automated solution to ensure best-in-class protection of all assets in our care.
Remote Monitoring
Solar sites have hundreds of thousands of components (modules, connectors, wiring) spread across large areas. From in-line sensors to aerial and ground-based drones, our team constantly evaluates site monitoring technology to provide real-time data on equipment conditions and site risks to our site operations teams. With a comprehensive picture of site health, our Asset Managers can ensure that sites operate economically, reliably, and safely.
Robotics and Automation
As the cost of robotics and automated systems fall, we see several attractive use cases in our labor-constrained market. By automating or augmenting staffed processes using robotics in surveying, construction, monitoring, or vegetation management, we allow our skilled technicians to focus on higher-order tasks to drive improved asset performance at a lower overall cost.
Fleet Spares
Downtime is expensive, and while most sites carry spares for more frequently replaced equipment, it is not always economically feasible to have a backup in stock for every part on a site. With longer lead times developing for certain high-voltage equipment, we are looking to elevate site reliability by developing a “spares-as-a-service” offering to our portfolio projects to ensure that sites have access to critical spares when they are needed most.
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
As data processing and pattern recognition continue to improve, our team is always on the lookout for cutting-edge AI/ML applications. For the most part, our team is focused on niche applications of this technology to solve compartmented problems such as document summaries or site selection while our larger IT and Digital Products teams work on large-scale applications for internal data processing.
Pilots and Early Deployments
Our team is always interested in evaluating new technologies that will help our team identify, develop, build, and operate industry-leading solar and storage assets.
Get in contact with us for more!
Data Sharing/Collaboration
We have active collaborations with industry, academia and government agencies designed to attract best practices and help drive more intellectual resources towards solving our industry’s pressing challenges. Visit our partnerships page to learn more about some of these collaborations.
Our innovation team busts myths on solar and extreme weather
Solar does work in extreme heat, extreme cold and everything in between. Despite weather unpredictability, solar continues to fortify our grid, enhancing stability and resilience in these circumstances.
At Lightsource bp, we have implemented a comprehensive hail mitigation and monitoring program at 100% of our US projects. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and automation, alongside real-time data, we’re safeguarding all of our solar assets.
Our Innovation and Operational Excellence experts Kevin Christy and Dave Martin talk about all this and more in this podcast. Watch the full episode!
Case studies: Innovation in solar development
Learn more about our innovation and operational excellence work at Lightsource bp in the USA by exploring our case studies.
08 Sep, 2023
Keeping an eye on the horizon: Updates on Lightsource bp’s comprehensive hail mitigation program
Article by Dave Martin
14 Nov, 2022
Mapping our way to a more resilient future
Learn about Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
White papers and other resources
Partner with us
At Lightsource bp, we’re excited to work with innovative partners that share our desire to help create a more sustainable, resilient and equitable world for present and future generations.
If you represent a group interested in exploring a partnership with Lightsource bp, we would love to hear from you.
Discover more
Energy solutions
Purchasing solar power enables organizations to meaningfully advance their global carbon reduction and renewable energy goals and, importantly, drive the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Multiuse solar
Learn how we are layering the sustainable benefits of solar with multiuse solar projects