CPP Wind Engineering Consultants

When the first solar farms began dotting the landscape, wind was often an afterthought. But CPP saw something others didn’t: the invisible wind forces shaping the future of renewable energy. Today, as the contribution of solar power to global energy demand rapidly grows, tracker systems become more complex, and climate patterns shift, the stakes have never been higher.

That’s why CPP is constantly expanding its capabilities and service offerings for the solar energy industry. The team is pushing boundaries by investing in research, refining engineering test and analysis techniques, and asking hard questions about how these emerging technologies interact with wind.

CPP Wind Engineering Consultants was an early pioneer in the emerging field of solar wind engineering, beginning in 2007, when the solar industry was still learning to adapt designs to the realities of wind. This early start enabled CPP to tackle challenges developers had not yet anticipated, from taming otherwise unstable behavior of long flexible tracker systems in gusty environments to optimizing fixed-tilt systems for minimal wind load.

Today, CPP’s 15+ years of specialized research and hands-on project experience help clients design solar arrays that are both resilient and cost-effective, cementing its reputation as a leader in the field. Its work ensures projects meet technical and financial performance expectations while minimizing the longer-term risks of damage, downtime, and costly retrofits.

The company’s capabilities extend beyond direct solar equipment testing within the laboratory to other solar plant design optimizations, such as full climate analysis studies, snow loading, sand drifting, topographic wind studies, and even full-scale field monitoring of wind loads and effects on PV systems. These projects all require the same disciplined approach: detailed wind analysis that considers the specific environment and conditions of each site. Rather than offering generic testing, CPP acts as a true partner, integrating its recommendations into a client’s broader engineering and business objectives.

“When people come to us, it’s because their project’s success hinges on ensuring wind stability and cost effectiveness. That responsibility is something we take seriously every single day,” says Oliver Napp, CEO.

Science That Speaks the Client’s Language

The partnership approach begins with listening. CPP’s team works closely with developers, engineers, and investors to understand not just the technical requirements of a project but also the financial and operational priorities behind it. This insight allows them to tailor solutions that are both scientifically rigorous and commercially viable. For instance, a project in a hail-prone region might require a different product set and/or stow strategy than one in a high-wind area. Depending on the storm profile, a system may need to prioritize protection from one hazard over another, a decision that calls for careful risk assessment supported by robust data and statistical analysis.

Technical considerations are at the heart of the company’s process. In solar projects, understanding how wind interacts with different mounting systems is essential. Tracker systems, which rotate panels to follow the sun, can experience highly unstable dynamic responses to wind, which differ significantly from fixed-tilt arrays, and which, without appropriate design consideration, can lead to catastrophic failure. CPP’s early works helped research and understand these complex phenomena and today enables detailed studies that help determine optimal tracker design characteristics, stow positions, and control algorithms to reduce the risk of instability or damage. The company also investigates how wind patterns affect ramp rates in power generation, ensuring that systems can meet grid requirements without unnecessary stress on components.

CPP’s expertise is supported by advanced proprietary tools, including state-of-the-art atmospheric boundary-layer wind tunnels that replicate the turbulent wind conditions induced by wind moving over the rough surface of the earth. These large devices allow us to test a scale prototype in the wind conditions it will face over its lifetime. These facilities allow the company to simulate a range of wind events on solar structures, from everyday breezes to extreme storms, and to observe how different design choices influence performance. By testing scale models under controlled conditions, the team can make precise, evidence-based recommendations that reduce uncertainty for clients.

“We like to be deeply involved in what the client is planning and what their goals are. We listen carefully, stay pragmatic and bring science that speaks the client’s language,” says David Banks, president.

From Steel Loads to Operational Strategies

One of CPP’s key contributions is helping clients balance performance with cost. Wind-resistant design is not just about making structures stronger; it is about making them smarter. CPP does this by helping clients put the extra strength only where it is needed for the specific combination of product and site conditions, as well as identifying where it can be reduced. By refining the design of supports, adjusting tilt angles, and optimizing material use, CPP can often reduce steel loads without compromising safety or increasing risk. This can translate into significant savings, especially on large projects where material costs are a major budget factor.

The company also assists with operational strategies, ensuring that wind considerations are built into the day-to-day running of a facility. For example, in areas prone to correlated hail and wind events, CPP can help operators decide when and how to stow panels to minimize overall damage risk. This holistic approach considers not only the structural behavior of the system but also the likely meteorological patterns over the project’s lifespan.

Such insights are valuable not only during the design phase but throughout the asset’s operational life. By embedding wind expertise into operational planning, CPP helps extend the longevity of equipment and improve the consistency of energy production.

A Broader Vision for Wind-Sensitive Infrastructure

While solar remains a core focus, CPP’s capabilities have been applied to a variety of other wind-sensitive projects. Transmission lines, for example, require careful analysis to avoid excessive oscillations or galloping under certain wind and ice conditions.

CPP’s work has tangible financial implications. A product well engineered for wind load and effects combined with a well-designed wind management strategy can reduce insurance costs, prevent revenue loss from downtime, and avoid the expense of costly failures and repairs. In the competitive renewable energy market, these advantages can be decisive.

“There are questions that are not fully answered in design codes right now. Our job is to help engineers and architects listen to what the wind is saying and design accordingly,” says Dr. Tom Mara, associate principal.

Shaping the Future of Renewable Energy Resilience

CPP’s leadership in solar wind engineering is not static. The company continues to invest in research, refining its understanding of how emerging technologies interact with wind. As solar panels become larger, tracker systems more sophisticated, and climate patterns more variable, the need for precise, site-specific wind engineering will only grow.

The team is also expanding its collaborative network, working with manufacturers, EPC contractors, and research institutions to share findings and develop industry-wide best practices. This collaborative mindset reinforces CPP’s role not only as a service provider but also as a thought leader in renewable energy resilience.

By combining advanced science with practical, real-world experience, CPP is helping the renewable energy sector and other industries that depend on wind-sensitive infrastructure build for a future where resilience and cost-effectiveness go hand in hand. The company’s first-mover expertise in solar wind engineering, backed by years of research and client-focused partnership, ensures that projects are prepared to meet the challenges of both today and tomorrow.