STAGES OF PV FARM EXECUTION

In the following article, we want to introduce the stages of execution of a large-scale PV farm.

Due to the nature of our work, the whole process can be divided into four stages.

The stage of preparing for construction — completing the necessary documentation and finding a contractor:

During this time, our team obtains the documents necessary to start construction work. We also handle the analysis of formal, legal, and design documents, as well as coordinate the tender for the construction contractor.

When tendering for a General Contractor, our team analyzes the bids and recommends the most attractive and cost-effective one, both in terms of the company's experience and the scope of work. Most often, construction work is carried out under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) formula; in this case, the scope of work of the General Contractor includes the design of the system, the supply of equipment, and finally their installation.

Implementation stage:

After the investor selects a General Contractor, our team takes care of investor control over construction work, conducting coordination meetings, controlling schedules, and organizing acceptance procedures.

Performing the work of a Contract Engineer, our team reacts on an ongoing basis to any unexpected technical and administrative problems that may arise during construction, estimates risks, and identifies solutions to optimize the entire process.

• The first work on the site involves preparing the plot, i.e., leveling the surface, installing fencing, and preparing access roads. At the same time, transportation of the necessary PV farm components — cables, modules, inverters, transformer stations, or structural elements — can take place. Excavation associated with the installation of AC and DC cables is carried out, followed by pile driving and piling of structures for the tables on which the modules will be mounted.
• In parallel with the installation of the modules, work may be carried out on the installation of transformer stations, then monitoring is set up and the farm is connected to the SCADA information system, which monitors and controls the processes on the PV farm. The construction of a PV farm takes from a dozen to several dozen weeks, depending on the organization of the various activities and the size of the investment.
• The stage of actual construction ends with notification to the Distribution System Operator that the photovoltaic farm is ready to be connected to the grid.

The grid connection stage:

The stage of connecting the investment to the grid is mainly communication with the Distribution System Operator, preparation and verification of the documentation necessary for connection to the grid, and the process of signing the distribution agreement. Before signing the agreement, the entity responsible for electricity trading and the Balancing Responsible Party must be determined.

There are various mechanisms for selling electricity; the most popular are PPAs, RES auctions, and the sale of energy to an obligated seller.

Commissioning of the investment:

After energization, it is time to conduct tests of the farm's operation. At this stage, we also carry out testing and acceptances that constitute the final acceptance protocol. The final step is verification of the as-built documentation and handing over the facility to the O&M (Operation and Maintenance) operator.