How Renewable Energy Integration Group Standardized and Scaled Operations with Bluerithm
Company Overview: Pioneering Communication Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Integration Group
Renewable Energy Integration Group (REIG) is a utility-scale renewables communication company specializing in data acquisition and communication infrastructure for solar and battery storage projects. Their primary focus is ensuring that utility-scale solar sites deliver accurate, real-time data into end-user software platforms, enabling informed decision-making for performance tracking, operations and maintenance (O&M), and financial analysis.
Brian Otto, the current CEO, originally joined the company in 2020 as a senior project manager. On his first day, he was tasked with deploying a newly purchased commissioning software platform—Bluerithm. From that moment, REIG’s digital transformation journey began. Otto would later help the company grow its commissioning and project management capabilities with Bluerithm at the core, eventually taking the helm as CEO. Under his leadership, the company’s operational systems, documentation, and reporting practices have matured alongside Bluerithm’s expanding capabilities.
Gans Solar
Lonestar Solar and BESS
“We really have kind of grown with Bluerithm over the years,” Otto shared. “We started out pretty basic. Bluerithm enhanced and increased features to make things easier and I think we’ve got a good system now.”
Why Bluerithm? The Case for Consistency and Professionalism
Prior to Bluerithm, REIG’s commissioning processes lacked standardization. Reports varied in structure and format, depending on the commissioning agent—some were in Word documents, others in PDFs, with no consistent branding or reporting format. This fragmented approach made it difficult to maintain professionalism and scale the operation.
Bluerithm was introduced to resolve this gap. The company’s vision was to create synergy across all projects and teams, enforcing a standardized, professional format for commissioning documentation and reporting.
“The whole idea was to create some synergy around how we were doing things as an organization and also keep consistency to our customers,” said Otto. “It was to create that professionalism—professional reporting, professional commissioning, and consistency.”
This transformation allowed REIG to improve how internal teams collaborated and how the company presented its work externally, ultimately leading to better client relationships and repeat business.
Daily Operations: A Customized, Crew-Based Workflow
REIG uses Bluerithm as a hybrid commissioning and project management platform. The software supports multiple checklists tied to specific work phases—assembly, installation, commissioning, and internal project management.
Checklist-Driven Workflows
Each service line at REIG has unique requirements, and the team has created purpose-built checklists for each function:
- Assembly Checklists for internal manufacturing teams
- Installation Checklists for field services
- Commissioning Checklists for final integration and quality assurance
- Project Management Checklists for task coordination and tracking (internal only)
Each checklist includes rich documentation, including photo uploads, which are critical for REIG’s fieldwork. Installers in harsh environments rely on mobile devices to snap images, check boxes, and input shorthand notes that are later refined for customer-facing reports.
Flexible Assignment Model
Rather than assigning tasks to individuals, REIG employs a crew-based access model. Each crew assigned to a project has access privileges within Bluerithm and can complete checklist tasks. This flexibility is crucial since project crews often rotate or vary based on availability and project timelines.
“We may have a crew that goes to the site the first time and if we can send the same crew the second time, we do. But that doesn’t always happen,” said Otto. “So they all have access.”
This approach ensures continuity in documentation and avoids bottlenecks when personnel change mid-project.
Template Philosophy: Customization Over Standardization
Bluerithm allows for customization wherever needed to adapt to unique project needs and facilitates efficiency in project setup. Despite using repeatable processes, REIG intentionally avoids rigid templates. Instead, they maintain a library of checklists. Before loading a checklist into a project, project managers tailor it for the specific site.
This method reflects the uniqueness of each project. For example, a project with 50 fiber pads requires a different scale and level of detail than one with just two pads. Rather than removing irrelevant sections from a generic template, the team edits the checklists in Excel or live and loads only the relevant parts into Bluerithm.
Flagship Project: Gans Solar for United Renewable Energy
One standout example of REIG’s comprehensive service delivery using Bluerithm is the Gans Solar project, completed for United Renewable Energy (URE), an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm. REIG completed 12 projects with URE using Bluerithm. The Gans Solar project was significant for several reasons:
- Comprehensive Scope: REIG provided manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and fiber integration—encompassing nearly all of their service lines.
- Volume of Work: The project included 300 completed work items.
- Categories Covered: Assembly, commissioning, engineering, installation, and project management.
- Equipment Involved: Fiber networks, inverters, meteorological (MET) stations, and network enclosures.
For MET stations specifically, REIG used Bluerithm to track detailed sensor components. Equipment pages were populated with serial numbers and specifications, streamlining both internal reference and customer reporting.
Lonestar Solar: A Complex Battery Integration Project
Another landmark project was Lonestar Solar, a large-scale project delivered for Blue Ridge Power, another EPC contractor. REIG completed seven projects with Blue Ridge Power using Bluerithm.
Project Highlights:
- Scale: 26 inverters and 26 battery energy storage systems (BESS)
- Infrastructure: Fiber cabling, weather sensor installations, and surveillance systems
- Integration: All data routed through a centralized substation network rack
- Surveillance: Network video recorders (NVRs) and camera feeds integrated into the system
- Complexity: Multi-layered communication wiring for real-time operational visibility
The project showcased Bluerithm’s adaptability to complex integrations beyond standard solar equipment—proving valuable in hybrid projects that combine solar, battery storage, and advanced communication systems.
Special Projects: Export Control Systems
REIG also works on export control systems for companies like SPEAR and HSI Solar. These differ from traditional solar projects, as they typically support manufacturing facilities with smaller photovoltaic (PV) fields. REIG’s role here is focused on energy management—installing control systems that regulate energy export and internal consumption.
These projects demonstrate REIG’s ability to apply its Bluerithm-enabled workflow to non-traditional use cases, reflecting the platform’s flexibility across renewable energy applications.
Customer Relationships: Trust Built Through Reporting
REIG’s customers primarily interact with the outputs of Bluerithm rather than the platform itself. Clients are granted read-only access, but the professionalism and clarity of the reports are what truly make an impression.
“We’ve gotten really positive feedback from our customers on the professionalism and the consistency of our reporting. That probably is what has separated us from others.”
This client feedback has not only validated REIG’s process improvements but has also led to repeat project work—a key qualitative metric for the platform’s success.
Data Management and Reporting Strategy
Scaling Up Reports
One of the challenges REIG faced was the size of its reports. Depending on the scope, reports ranged from 2 pages to several hundred pages. The main culprit for ballooning report size was fiber optic testing data, particularly OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer) and power meter reports.
For example, one site’s fiber reports alone reached:
- 52 fiber circuits
- 53 pages per circuit
- Total: ~2,756 pages
Segmented Reporting Approach
To resolve this, REIG adopted a segmented reporting strategy. OTDR and power meter test reports are now separated from main commissioning reports. This keeps the core report manageable for customers while maintaining full documentation in supplemental files.
“People just won’t take the time to read long reports. They want instant gratification. So you’ve got to keep it short and sweet,” Otto said.
Quantifiable and Qualitative Outcomes
REIG has seen both internal and external benefits from Bluerithm:
Qualitative Results
1) Customer Retention and Repeat Work: The consistent quality of deliverables has earned trust and long-term client relationships.
2) Improved Training and Processes: New and existing staff benefit from clearly defined roles and workflows, reducing onboarding time and increasing productivity.
Internal Efficiency
- Clearer roles for installation technicians
- Mobile-friendly checklists that reduce administrative burden
- Reliable documentation for audits and customer queries
Lonestar Solar and BESS
Team Adoption and Roles
As of today, nine REIG team members use Bluerithm regularly, including project managers, installers, and commissioning agents. The platform supports them throughout the project lifecycle, from planning and execution to final reporting.
Otto initially spearheaded the system design but has since handed off day-to-day operations to two project managers who maintain checklist libraries, upload site-specific tasks, and manage permissions.
Experience with the Bluerithm Team
REIG has maintained a strong relationship with the Bluerithm team, with responsive support whenever questions or issues arise.
“I haven’t had any issues,” Otto said. “I’ve submitted tickets and had pretty fast response times. Andrew [Bluerithm founder] has been great to work with through the years.”
This trust has enabled REIG to grow its reliance on the platform, confident in the support structure behind it.
Conclusion: A Scalable Digital Foundation for Renewable Projects
REIG’s journey with Bluerithm illustrates how powerful commissioning software can do more than just track punch lists—it can standardize operations, reinforce client trust, and support scalability across project types.
From traditional solar sites to battery storage and export control systems, REIG’s adoption of Bluerithm has become a cornerstone of its professionalism and repeatable success.
With complex utility-scale projects on the rise and expectations for transparency growing, REIG is well-positioned to lead in its sector—supported by a digital foundation built with Bluerithm.
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