Once a site has been shortlisted, CETC Solar Energy commissions detailed reports on aspects such as solar irradiation and the soil conditions to enable precise costing of the project. Meanwhile, the technicalities of feed-in are clarified with the local power utility. Parallel to these site analyses, CETC Solar Energy also takes care of obtaining official approval. Once this has come through and the finance has been settled, detailed planning can begin.
A project is implemented in the following dovetailed stages: planning, construction, start-up and servicing. This is one of the reasons why utility scale solar projects of around 50MWp can be accomplished within just a few months. During the planning phase, the electrical equipment and the rack systems are adapted to the specific conditions on site, while the project timetable and logistics are defined. This is to ensure that the components necessary are available at the right time and that the various stages of construction are seamlessly scheduled.
During construction, CETC Solar Energy makes use of an established network of subcontractors. This reduces the time and resources required for project control and minimises the risks involved. Building begins with the foundations in the soil for the rack systems which will accommodate the modules. Next, all the electronic components are fitted. After a standard unit has been completed, it's time to install the inverters, whose job it is to convert the direct current produced into the alternating current required by the grid. The use of state-of-the-art equipment enables high efficiency.
Following the completion of individual units, they are directly connected to the power utility's network. When the final unit has been connected, the photovoltaic system is ready for handover to the client.
In most projects, the servicing and operation of the solar power plant are carried out by CETC Solar Energy to offer the project partners maximum reliability. Extensive insurance packages are used to cover all the risks, and the systems' maximum technical availability is guaranteed throughout its lifetime.
Solar power plants are among the greenest forms of energy generation, producing no noise or emissions whatsoever. And unlike wind turbines, photovoltaic systems have a typical height of just 1-2 metres, and so hardly spoil the countryside. Whats more, the construction of a photovoltaic system has little impact on the environment.
