The project installation in Solar PV Power project is a crucial step as it involves perfect planning, technical expertise and right execution strategy. There are plenty of EPC providers for Solar PV power projects in market ranging from International recognized brand with too good performance to totally roadside newbie company who just sprouted from rooftop solar PV business. Commercial power generation in Megawatts is not easy business as it seems of doing it and that's why selecting right EPC provider holds key to successful and sustainable business revenue for developer. Besides selecting EPC provider, project requires right PMC contract be awarded to third party consultant to keep watch on milestones and EPC work quality during project installation.

Engineering

• Plant civil design: To make best and effective use of land available to the project besides making it fully accessible on hazards, security point of view and O & M angle. Giving plant a designer touch along with fully complied usage criteria is not a bad idea.
• Product requirement, technology, specification and evaluation: On high level Project requires, Panels, Panel holding structure, civil construction to hold panel structure, cables, cable tray, inverters and transformers. As most know there are two famous technology in the market, Crystalline (Mono-crystalline and Poly-crystalline) and thin films (a-Si). Both technologies have advantage and disadvantage. While Crystalline has tendency to produce less power during very high temperature compare to Thin Films panels, later requires almost twice the space then Crystalline panels. Moneywise, thin films are cheaper then crystalline, later is time tested in Spain and Germany for many years compare to 3 year history of thin films technology. So there are good and bad on both sides. Every EPC has their own choice of technology but evaluating right EPC based on performance on either technology rather than monetary reward gets developer good returns on long run.

Procurement

• as Most PPA's in INDIA have deadline to commission, Procurement cycle must be arranged in parallel to financial closure activity. Panel and inverter market for good brand are always in shortage internationally, though quick decision and MOU signed with supplier at right time saves money and time both in installation. Shipping alignment, storage safety and environmentally correct waste disposal after completion of the project requires good project management from PMC consultant.

Construction

This phase where an actual action happens on field is real time testers of any EPC provider. Following are the major construction activity goes either in parallel or sequential as provider decides. Land reconstruction: To make your land parcel south-east facing to gain better panel output, the task includes local government permits, heavy machinery to level the land parcel and required sub contractor or labor force to commence and complete the work quickly.

• Roads, building and site fencing: 3 ft thick X25 ft wide asphalt roads must be built between state roads to land parcel for big rigs to enter into the project site. Developer must have permission to build road from local government. Some remote project sites requires residential building to be built for Plant manager or staff or security, as well as weather station, site monitoring tower and internal roads for inspection and frequent Operations and maintenances tasks. Fencing for security is also required.
• Panel structure installation: There are coupld of ways to erect panel poles. With machinery 8 inch diameter metal pipe can be forced inside earth crust perpendicularly or digging 5 ft hole and then get concrete work around pole. Pole structure must be placed such a way that leave enough place on one side to burry cable tray. Developer can select fix, single axis or Dual axis panel tracker (tracker rotates panel as sun moves) to get better performance of panels.
• Panel inverter, cable and transformer installation: clear and clean installation of panel, inverter and cable is important task from O & M perspective once EPC completes his job. Also rightly designed Electrical mapping of the project not only saves money it will also help you reduce internal transmission losses too.
• Weather station installation: important to forecast the power generation while keeping prior warning on any kind of storm of rain helps keep power generation running smooth.

As EPC is most important task, managing EPC provider on day to day basis for Project milestones, quality criteria and other project tasks requires technical understanding, knowledge and in depth expertise from PMC consultants. We at Movya do offer right and best PMC option for developer in the existing current market.