Part 3 - Solar PV Project Life Cycle and where to look for cost savings

What does it really take to build a Solar PV project in a cost effective manner? ©
Part - 3

System design is a factor that seems to befuddle most system integrator. From the days of laying modules flat or close to flat when capacity based incentives were the order of the day to today’s performance based incentives the key to maximizing energy production (KWh) is how a system is put together.

2. System Design


• Design and Equipment Review
• System Optimization
• Design Review for code compliance
  

Design and Equipment review starts with selection of the appropriate equipment for the job at hand:

• Module
• Inverter
• Transformer

System optimization is key to getting the best out of the Design and selected equipment. Factors to consider for optimizing a system design:

• Tracker vs. Fixed Tilt design
• Row spacing to avoid shading
• System shading due to other obstructions
• DC wire size based on run
• AC wire size based on run

At the end of the day the question to ask is, does the design comply with local code?

In the next segment we will review:

3. System Integration


• Permit Acquisition
• Construction
• System Testing
  
• Project Completion

To be continued...

Part 1 -Solar PV Project Life Cycle and where to look for cost savings

What does it really take to build a Solar PV project in a cost effective manner? ©
Part - 1

Over the course of the next few months, the plan is to Blog the different parts of a Project Life Cycle and provide insight into areas that solar developers and integrators can look for cost reduction.

As an industry that is right now in the "calm before the storm", it is a good time to reflect on what the industry has done so far and be able to dissect and figure out what has worked and what hasn’t and hopefully learn from one another what needs to be done when the market does open up.

To this end I’d love to invite those that have been in the industry to provide your feedback and experiences to enhance the quality of the posts.

Let’s jump right in and take a look at the very first topic.

1. Project Feasibility Analysis
• Site Evaluation
• Utility Rate Schedule Analysis
• Performance estimate (energy predictions)
• Financial ROI

To be continued...