How Recurrent Manages Over 1 GW of Solar Assets Across North America with Sitemark

About Recurrent Energy

Recurrent Energy is one of the world's largest and most geographically diversified utility-scale solar and energy storage project development, ownership, and operations platforms.

With more than 14 GW of contracted projects under long-term operation and maintenance agreements, Recurrent Energy manages a massive portfolio that demands operational excellence at scale.

The Challenge: Managing a Geographically Dispersed Portfolio

Matthew Gauthier oversees Recurrent's North American portfolio—over 1 gigawatt spanning Canada and the United States. The challenge? Two very different operational environments: In Canada, sites are smaller but widely scattered across remote northern regions. Getting eyes on these assets means navigating significant logistical obstacles—long distances, harsh weather, and limited access.

In the United States, sites are much larger (some exceeding 100 MW) and clustered across states like Texas and California. While geographically closer together, these installations require efficient monitoring to keep pace with their scale.Recurrent needed a monitoring solution that could keep up with its diverse portfolio.

The Solution

Recurrent uses Sitemark across four key areas of their operations:

Scheduled Thermal Inspections

Regular infrared inspections form the backbone of Recurrent's preventive maintenance strategy. These flights systematically monitor module performance, catch thermal anomalies early, and provide documentation for warranty claims. For a portfolio of this scale, systematic coverage ensures every site, no matter how remote, receives consistent attention.

Responsive Ad Hoc Flights

When performance drops unexpectedly or weather events occur, Recurrent needs rapid answers. Sitemark's ad hoc inspection service provides quick-turn deployment for damage assessment, issue verification, and insurance documentation. This eliminates the time and cost of sending technicians to remote sites just to assess whether intervention is needed.

Autonomous Monitoring

At select sites, Recurrent has deployed drone-in-a-box solutions that fly scheduled missions automatically. This is particularly valuable for remote Canadian sites where the logistics of regular manual flights would be prohibitive. The drones launch, inspect, and return to their station without requiring on-site personnel.

Construction to Operations

As new sites come online, Sitemark supports the transition with as-built documentation, pre-commissioning thermal scans, and quality verification inspections. This creates a baseline for future monitoring and catches installation issues before they become operational problems.

The Results: Efficiency Meets Innovation

By partnering with Sitemark, Recurrent Energy has achieved significant operational improvements across their North American portfolio:

Portfolio-Wide Coverage

Successfully managing inspections across over 1 GW of solar capacity in North America
Covering diverse site types: from small, remote northern Canadian installations to large multi-hundred MW facilities across multiple US states
Maintaining consistent monitoring standards across vastly different geographic and logistical conditions

Operational Efficiency Gains

Eliminated traditional logistical barriers that previously complicated inspections of remote, widely dispersed sites
Reduced inspection planning time through flexible, responsive scheduling
Enabled rapid deployment for ad hoc inspection requests alongside scheduled IR thermography

Enhanced Asset Management

Proactive identification of issues through regular drone-based IR thermography
Faster response times when anomalies are detected or urgent inspections are needed
Better data quality for decision-making across the entire portfolio

Cost & Time Savings

Reduced travel complexity and costs for remote site inspections
Minimized downtime through efficient, non-invasive inspection methods
Streamlined workflows through a single-vendor solution for multiple inspection needs

"If somebody were to think about Sitemark, I would definitely say you're looking to expect efficiency, movement with innovation and technology," Matthew explains.

But here's what Matthew emphasizes: the technology alone isn't what makes it work. Rather than forcing Recurrent into a one-size-fits-all approach, Sitemark adapted to their specific needs across different site types and locations. When challenges arose—whether logistical obstacles with remote sites or urgent inspection needs—Sitemark's team focused immediately on solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

The relationship operates as a true partnership, with transparent dialogue between teams that makes every challenge feel manageable.

FieldLink Mobile App: Bringing Digital Operations to the Field

While Recurrent leverages Sitemark's full platform capabilities, one tool has proven particularly valuable for teams managing dispersed portfolios: the FieldLink mobile app.

The Field Operations Challenge

Traditional solar O&M often relies on paper-based systems, disconnected workflows, and manual data entry. For a portfolio spanning remote Canadian sites to large US installations, this approach creates inefficiencies and information gaps. Field technicians need real-time access to site data, the ability to document issues on the spot, and seamless integration with central systems.

The FieldLink mobile app transforms how field teams interact with site data:

Real-Time Issue Management

View and filter tickets directly in the field
Update ticket statuses and add photos/comments on-site
GPS-based issue location for precise anomaly tracking
Offline functionality ensures productivity even without connectivity

Streamlined Field Documentation

Scan module serial numbers for instant component identification
Custom forms for quality checks and inspections
Attach photos and notes directly to specific assets
Automatic syncing when the connection is restored

Coordinated Team Operations

Calendar integration for scheduled maintenance
Permission-based access for different user roles
Direct links from tickets to detailed site information
View component details and model data in the field

The Mobile-First Advantage

For portfolio managers overseeing geographically dispersed sites, FieldLink provides a crucial operational layer. Technicians arriving at remote sites have immediate access to inspection history, anomaly data from drone flights, and work orders—all from their mobile device. This eliminates the lag time between identifying issues through aerial inspections and addressing them in the field.

The app's offline capabilities are particularly valuable for remote sites with unreliable connectivity. Teams can continue working, documenting, and updating information, with all changes automatically syncing once they're back online.

Why It Matters

For Portfolio Managers

Managing geographically diverse assets requires more than just technology—it requires a partner who understands that every site, every region, and every situation is unique.

For Operations Teams

The ability to request ad hoc flights alongside scheduled inspections means your monitoring strategy can be as dynamic as your operational needs.

For Growing Portfolios

Whether you're managing compact regional installations or sprawling multi-state portfolios, the combination of advanced drone technology and flexible service delivery scales with your needs.

The Bottom Line

"If you're looking for a personalized, flexible experience, I feel like the drone technology and Sitemark is the way to go. I would highly recommend it," Matthew concludes.

For Recurrent, Sitemark isn't just a service provider, it's a partner that makes managing over 1 GW of solar assets across North America's diverse geography both efficient and straightforward.