Designing and building solar on challenging terrain

Wednesday, 10. December 2025
9:00 am – 10:00 am PST, Los Angeles | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST, New York City | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm CET, Berlin, Madrid, Paris

This pv magazine webinar explores opportunities for developing solar projects on difficult, uneven terrain. Featuring firsthand insights from Nevados’ technical team alongside Terra Works, a civil contractor and project partner, we will discuss how grading analysis, tracker design, and installation strategies come together to push the boundaries of what’s possible for utility-scale solar on sloped and uneven land.

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Presentation

Hear firsthand insights from a Nevados customer and civil contractor who successfully delivered a project on a reclaimed coal mine with difficult terrain, and learn about strategies on how to push the boundaries for installing on slopes greater than 20%.

Attendees will gain an understanding of how to evaluate grading trade-offs from concept through final construction and explore the design levers available to customers when navigating sites with challenging terrain. We will delve into how to design on challenging terrain, including quantifying savings from grading elimination, and the implications of 3D design for customers, such as the ability to optimize around grading avoidance, civil considerations, and safety for installation.

Furthermore, Terra Works will talk about specific challenges and opportunities with physically building and installing solar on challenging terrain, including material staging and equipment modifications/design. Join us to unlock new opportunities for solar deployment on previously unusable land.

pv magazine Webinar content:

Design & construction on steep slopes: Learn strategies to successfully build solar projects on terrain previously deemed too difficult, including a case study on a reclaimed coal mine.
Quantify grading savings: Understand how 3D design and tracker technology eliminate unnecessary grading, leading to significant project cost reductions.
Gain insight into the critical civil, engineering, and customer design decisions needed to optimize projects on challenging site
Q&A

Questions can be submitted beforehand in the comments window when registering or in the chat during the live webinar. Ryan Kennedy, editor at pv magazine USA, will be the moderator of this webinar.

Registration for this pv magazine Webinar is free of charge.

Speakers

Andrew Lindsay | Civil engineering manager, Nevados

Andrew Lindsay brings together practical field experience and technical expertise to develop advanced layout and civil-engineering tools that enable solar projects on complex terrain. Before joining Nevados, he worked at Kimley-Horn, leading design and permitting for utility-scale solar, substation, and BESS projects. He holds a BS in Environmental Engineering from UC San Diego.

Ryan Miles Sr | President, Terra Works

Ryan Miles, Founder and President of Terra Works, started his career at Miles Developing & Contracting before earning a Business Management & Industrial Relations degree from Clarion University. He launched Terra Works with one skid steer and grew it into a respected civil construction company. With 22 years of experience, he oversees project management, estimating, quality control, and operations across a wide range of civil construction services.

Theron Miles | Co-Owner, Terra Works

Theron Miles gained early, hands-on construction experience in the late ’90s before earning a degree in Corporate Finance and Commercial Real Estate from Clarion University. He joined Terra Works as a project manager, later becoming a part owner and lead Superintendent. With 15 years of experience, he manages full site operations, coordination, logistics, and major civil projects while also supporting estimating and overall corporate health.

Moderators

Ryan Kennedy | Editor, pv magazine USA

Ryan joined pv magazine in 2021, bringing experience from a top residential solar installer, and a U.S.-based inverter manufacturer. He holds a degree in Management with a certification in Sustainable Business Practices from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is currently pursuing a Master of Energy and Environmental Management degree at the University of Connecticut.