Innovative Insights: Stantec Beacon™
July 10, 2023
Kyle Jones joins the podcast to discuss the creation of Stantec Beacon, a vertical design tool that makes solar facilities more efficient
Making solar facilities more efficient and cost-effective
In this episode, co-hosts Dave Roberts and Mike Arsenault talk about solar power and solar facility design. They are joined by the creator of Stantec Beacon, civil designer Kyle Jones. They discuss the benefits of solar facilities, the challenges of construction, and the inefficiencies inherent in the solar facility design process. They talk about Kyle’s creation of Stantec Beacon and how the digital solution can make the design process quicker and more efficient.
Listen to podcast:
Share
-
Kyle is a civil designer in the development and installation of solar farms. He developed the proprietary Stantec Beacon™, which automates grading optimization, pile elevations, and complete tolerance validation for solar farms.
Contact Kyle -
Mike brings our innovative ideas and solutions to life, helping our clients and communities address a wide range of challenges with digital technology.
Contact Mike -
Dave is responsible for embedding digital strategy into every facet of the business by integrating emerging technologies, advancing AI adoption, and building scalable digital capabilities that enhance impact, efficiency, and experience.
Contact Dave
{
"headline": "Related Ideas",
"link": {
"text":"View More Ideas",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/market\/energy.html"
},
"newTab": false,
"uuid": "1c750fca\u002D2e10\u002D4541\u002D8c9a\u002Df5dbfa0361a7",
"themeClass": "home-related-items-2",
"tabs": [
{
"headline": "",
"active": true,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 0 - Microgrids: A shift toward energy independence",
"link": {
"text":"Microgrids: A shift toward energy independence",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2026\/microgrids\u002Dshift\u002Dtoward\u002Denergy\u002Dindependence.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/029\/residential\u002Dneighbourhood\u002Dadobestock\u002D534528164.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Microgrids: A shift toward energy independence",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 1 - Increasing energy storage capacity in North America",
"link": {
"text":"Increasing energy storage capacity in North America",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/article\/2025\/increasing\u002Denergy\u002Dstorage\u002Dcapacity\u002Dnorth\u002Damerica.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/pdf\u002Dpromo\u002Dimages\/004\/hydro\u002Dpumped\u002Dstorage\u002Dadobestock\u002D466579290.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Increasing energy storage capacity in North America",
"overwriteSubhead": "Published Article",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 2 - Beyond clean energy: The many benefits of hydropower",
"link": {
"text":"Beyond clean energy: The many benefits of hydropower",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2025\/beyond\u002Dclean\u002Denergy\u002Dmany\u002Dbenefits\u002Dof\u002Dhydropower.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/horsetooth\u002Dreservoir \u002Dadobestock\u002D359566294.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Beyond clean energy: The many benefits of hydropower",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 3 - Navigating the distributed energy resources revolution",
"link": {
"text":"Navigating the distributed energy resources revolution",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/article\/2025\/navigating\u002Ddistributed\u002Denergy\u002Dresources\u002Drevolution.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/solar\u002Dfarm\u002Dadobestock\u002D206362930.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Navigating the distributed energy resources revolution",
"overwriteSubhead": "Published Article",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 4 - Designing mine sites with less carbon-intensive energy infrastructure",
"link": {
"text":"Designing mine sites with less carbon\u002Dintensive energy infrastructure",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/article\/2025\/designing\u002Dmine\u002Dsites\u002Dwith\u002Dless\u002Dcarbon\u002Dintensive\u002Denergy\u002Dinfrastructure.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/solar\u002Dwind\u002Dfarm\u002Dadobestock\u002D1039131159.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Designing mine sites with less carbon\u002Dintensive energy infrastructure",
"overwriteSubhead": "Published Article",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 5 - Electrifying our grids: The role of HVDC technology",
"link": {
"text":"Electrifying our grids: The role of HVDC technology",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2025\/electrifying\u002Dour\u002Dgrids\u002Drole\u002Dhvdc\u002Dtechnology.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/004\/tranmission\u002Dlines\u002Dadobestock\u002D9699481.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Electrifying our grids: The role of HVDC technology",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 6 - Renewable energy and electrification rely on critical minerals and metals",
"link": {
"text":"Renewable energy and electrification rely on critical minerals and metals",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2025\/renewable\u002Denergy\u002Delectrification\u002Drely\u002Don\u002Dcritical\u002Dminerals\u002Dmetals.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/solar\u002Dpanels\u002Dadobestock\u002Dhr\u002D278469750.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Renewable energy and electrification rely on critical minerals and metals",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 7 - The demand for energy and water at data centers",
"link": {
"text":"The demand for energy and water at data centers",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2025\/the\u002Ddemand\u002Dfor\u002Denergy\u002Dwater\u002Dat\u002Ddata\u002Dcenters.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/data\u002Dcenter\u002Dadobestock\u002D123123866.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "The demand for energy and water at data centers",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 8 - Electrification: A key driver for a greener tomorrow",
"link": {
"text":"Electrification: A key driver for a greener tomorrow",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2025\/electrification\u002Dkey\u002Ddriver\u002Dfor\u002Dgreener\u002Dtomorrow.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/027\/transmission\u002Dlines\u002Dcity\u002Dadobestock\u002D589186718.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Electrification: A key driver for a greener tomorrow",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 9 - The energy transition is about more than just renewables",
"link": {
"text":"The energy transition is about more than just renewables",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2024\/energy\u002Dtransition\u002Dabout\u002Dmore\u002Dthan\u002Djust\u002Drenewables.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0004\/energy\u002Dtransition\u002Drenewables.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "The energy transition is about more than just renewables",
"overwriteSubhead": "Video",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 10 - Protecting solar farms from the elements: Geohazard mitigation for large-scale solar farms",
"link": {
"text":"Protecting solar farms from the elements: Geohazard mitigation for large\u002Dscale solar farms",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2024\/protecting\u002Dsolar\u002Dfarms\u002Dfrom\u002Delements\u002Dgeohazard\u002Dmitigation\u002Dlarge\u002Dscale\u002Dsolar\u002Dfarms.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0131\/kingaroy\u002Dsolar\u002Dfarm.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Protecting solar farms from the elements: Geohazard mitigation for large\u002Dscale solar farms",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": false,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 11 - ",
"link": {
"text":"",
"url":""
},
"promoImage": "",
"overwriteHeadline": "",
"overwriteSubhead": "",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 12 - 4 considerations for your next grid-modernization project",
"link": {
"text":"4 considerations for your next grid\u002Dmodernization project",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2024\/4\u002Dconsiderations\u002Dfor\u002Dyour\u002Dnext\u002Dgrid\u002Dmodernization\u002Dproject.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/026\/transmission\u002Dlines\u002Dadobestock\u002D299237262.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "4 considerations for your next grid\u002Dmodernization project",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 13 - Designing Canada’s largest solar farm",
"link": {
"text":"Designing Canada’s largest solar farm",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2024\/designing\u002Dcanadas\u002Dlargest\u002Dsolar\u002Dfarm.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0004\/travers\u002Dsolar\u002Dfacility\u002D2.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Designing Canada’s largest solar farm",
"overwriteSubhead": "Video",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": false,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 14 - ",
"link": {
"text":"",
"url":""
},
"promoImage": "",
"overwriteHeadline": "",
"overwriteSubhead": "",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 15 - Rethinking energy storage: Looking beyond batteries",
"link": {
"text":"Rethinking energy storage: Looking beyond batteries",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2024\/rethinking\u002Denergy\u002Dstorage\u002Dlooking\u002Dbeyond\u002Dbatteries.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/026\/alamosa\u002Dconcentrated\u002Dsolar\u002Dpower.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Rethinking energy storage: Looking beyond batteries",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 16 - Decentralized renewables fuel sustainability",
"link": {
"text":"Decentralized renewables fuel sustainability",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/article\/2024\/decentralized\u002Drenewables\u002Dfuel\u002Dsustainability.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0001\/power\u002Denergy\u002Dadobestock\u002D112718528.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Decentralized renewables fuel sustainability",
"overwriteSubhead": "Published Article",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 17 - Low-carbon energy solutions for mine sites",
"link": {
"text":"Low\u002Dcarbon energy solutions for mine sites",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2024\/low\u002Dcarbon\u002Denergy\u002Dsolutions\u002Dfor\u002Dmine\u002Dsites.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/025\/copper\u002Dmine\u002Dadobestock\u002D249880591.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Low\u002Dcarbon energy solutions for mine sites",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 18 - How we decarbonize the mining industry",
"link": {
"text":"How we decarbonize the mining industry",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2024\/how\u002Dwe\u002Ddecarbonize\u002Dmining\u002Dindustry.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0004\/electric\u002Dcar\u002Dcharging\u002Dadobestock\u002D473584515.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "How we decarbonize the mining industry",
"overwriteSubhead": "Video",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 19 - How integrated thinking can help boost the energy transition",
"link": {
"text":"How integrated thinking can help boost the energy transition",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2024\/how\u002Dintegrated\u002Dthinking\u002Dcan\u002Dhelp\u002Dboost\u002Denergy\u002Dtransition.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/025\/solar\u002Dwind\u002Dturbines\u002Dadobestock\u002D276818517.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "How integrated thinking can help boost the energy transition",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 20 - 100% renewable energy: Making that commitment count",
"link": {
"text":"100% renewable energy: Making that commitment count",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/blog\/2023\/100\u002Dpercent\u002Drenewable\u002Denergy\u002Dmaking\u002Dthat\u002Dcommitment\u002Dcount.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/blogs\/024\/solar\u002Dpanels\u002Dadobestock\u002D478467898.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "100% renewable energy: Making that commitment count",
"overwriteSubhead": "Blog Post",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 21 - Innovative Insights: Extreme Weather and Digital Solutions",
"link": {
"text":"Innovative Insights: Extreme Weather and Digital Solutions",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2023\/stantec\u002Dio\u002Dpodcast\u002Dextreme\u002Dweather\u002Ddigital\u002Dsolutions.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0004\/extreme\u002Dweather\u002Dadobestock\u002D212000291.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Innovative Insights: Extreme Weather and Digital Solutions",
"overwriteSubhead": "Podcast",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 22 - Innovative Insights: Stantec Beacon™",
"link": {
"text":"Innovative Insights: Stantec Beacon™",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2023\/stantec\u002Dio\u002Dpodcast\u002Dstantec\u002Dbeacon.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0004\/stantec\u002Dbeacon\u002Dpodcast.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Innovative Insights: Stantec Beacon™",
"overwriteSubhead": "Podcast",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 23 - Stantec Beacon™ and Travers (the largest solar facility in Canada)",
"link": {
"text":"Stantec Beacon™ and Travers (the largest solar facility in Canada)",
"url":"\/en\/ideas\/content\/video\/2023\/stantec\u002Dbeacon\u002Dtravers\u002Dlargest\u002Dsolar\u002Dfacility\u002Din\u002Dcanada.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/ideas\/video\/0003\/travers\u002Dsolar\u002Dfacility.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Stantec Beacon™ and Travers (the largest solar facility in Canada)",
"overwriteSubhead": "Video",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
}
]
},
{
"headline": "",
"active": false,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
]
},
{
"headline": "",
"active": false,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
]
}
]
}