What to Expect

Site Plans: Showing property lines, north arrow, array location, panel layout, setbacks, access pathways, and the location of all major equipment (inverter, disconnects, main service panel, battery storage)

Roof Framing & Attachment Plans (for roof mounts): Showing the location of rafters and the attachment method for the racking system

PV Solar Drafting Services

AER Energy Solutions provides professional AutoCAD drafting for residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) solar projects in Bakersfield and throughout Kern County. I prepare permit-ready plan sets that are accurate, code-aware, and ready for engineer review and submission.

I am not a licensed engineer or contractor. I do not perform stamped engineering calculations. However, as your drafting partner, I create the technical drawings that make the permitting process faster and smoother for your team.

Electrical Single-Line Diagrams (SLDs): Showing all components in the system (modules, combiners, inverters, disconnects, and the point of utility interconnection) with all required NEC 690 annotations

Foundation & Layout Plans (for ground mounts): Showing the structural layout and site details

❋ Expert Facilitation

Equipment Schedules & Cut Sheets: Including manufacturer specs for all modules, inverters, racking, and combiners

Redline Conversions & As-Builts for existing PV systems.

Commercial & Utility-Scale PV Drafting

AER Energy Solutions provides AutoCAD drafting services for commercial solar farms, utility-scale PV generating stations, and large-scale solar facilities. I work with engineers, developers, and contractors to prepare the technical drawings required for land use permitting, environmental review, and final construction documentation.

I am not a licensed engineer or land use planner. I do not perform structural calculations, environmental impact analysis, or final stamping. However, as your drafting partner, I prepare the site layouts, electrical plans, and documentation packages that keep your project moving through the approval process.


Title 24 Part 6 (Building Energy Efficiency Standards)

For commercial solar facilities associated with buildings (warehouse rooftops, parking canopies, industrial facilities), my drafting follows Title 24, Part 6 compliance pathways, including the SARA (Solar Access Roof Area) and CFA (Conditioned Floor Area) calculation methods for determining required PV capacity . The code remains in effect through 2031 .

Local AHJ Requirements (City of Coalinga and Kern County)

Local jurisdictions often have specific solar farm requirements. For example, the City of Coalinga requires :

  • Site Plan Review Permit approval by the Planning Commission

  • Building Permits prior to construction

  • Ground-mounted systems limited to 25 feet in height

  • Underground distribution lines where practical

  • Perimeter fencing (6-7 feet) with security screening

  • Abandonment removal requirements (12 months after cessation)

For commercial projects in Bakersfield and throughout Kern County, I coordinate with local AHJs to ensure all drawing sets meet their specific application requirements.

Critical Codes I Follow in My Drafting:

My drawings are prepared to support your engineer's final review and are consistent with:

  • NEC 2020 (as amended by the California Electrical Code): Specifically Article 690 (Solar PV Systems), including rapid shutdown (690.12) and conductor sizing (690.8) requirements.

  • California Title 24, Part 6 (Energy Code): My drawings include all necessary schedules for compliance.

  • Local AHJ Requirements (City of Bakersfield / Kern County): I will confirm and follow the specific submittal checklists for your project's jurisdiction. I can also prepare packages for jurisdictions that have adopted the SolarAPP+ expedited permitting process.

California Permitting Framework for Solar Farms

Opt-In Certification Program (California Energy Commission)

For utility-scale solar projects (typically 50 MW or greater), developers may choose the CEC's Opt-In Certification Program, which streamlines permitting under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and requires a 270-day environmental impact review (EIR) process . My drafting services support:

  • Site plans for environmental review

  • Facility layout drawings for community benefits agreements

  • Electrical plans for CEC compliance certification

  • Documentation for local government LORS (laws, ordinances, regulations, standards) conformance

Large-Scale PV Solar Codes I Follow in My Drafting

NEC Article 691 – Large-Scale PV Electric Supply Stations

This article of the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifically covers installations with inverter generating capacity greater than 5,000 kW (5 MW) that are not under exclusive control of a utility . My drafting for these projects follows:

  • 691.4 – Access Limitation: My site plans show controlled access points and restricted areas for authorized personnel only. These systems are not installed on buildings .

  • 691.6 – Engineered Design Documentation: My drawings are prepared to support the stamped engineering design that the AHJ requires. I do not stamp, but my deliverables are organized for engineer review .

  • 691.9 – Disconnection and Isolation Means: My single-line diagrams and site plans show the location and documentation of remote disconnect and isolation equipment .

  • 691.11 – Grounding and Bonding of Fences: For ground-mounted solar farms, my site plans include fence location details to coordinate with grounding requirements .

NEC Article 690 – Photovoltaic Systems (for commercial systems under 5 MW)

For smaller commercial solar farms (under 5 MW), I draft in accordance with Article 690, including rapid shutdown, circuit sizing, and labeling requirements .

NEC Article 705 – Parallel Power Production

For all grid-tied commercial systems, my single-line diagrams and interconnection drawings follow Article 705 requirements for connecting additional power production sources to the primary utility source .

Commercial & Utility-Scale Services I Provide

Site Plans: Property boundaries, panel array layout, equipment pad locations, access roads, fencing, underground utility routing

Single-Line Diagrams (SLDs): Complete electrical topology showing modules, combiners, inverters, transformers, switchgear, and utility interconnection point

Three-Line Diagrams: Detailed electrical configuration for commercial systems showing phase conductors, overcurrent protection, and grounding

Equipment Layout Plans: Inverter station placement, combiner box locations, transformer pads, and maintenance access pathways

Fencing & Security Plans: Perimeter fencing, access gates, signage locations, camera placement if required by AHJ

Grading & Drainage Plans: Site grading, stormwater management, erosion control measures (in coordination with civil engineer)

Erosion Control & SWPPP Support: Basic erosion control drawing preparation in coordination with civil engineering team

Redline Conversions for Existing Facilities: Converting field markups from site visits into clean as-built drawings for older commercial systems