Electricity + Control April 2018

TRANSFORMERS + SUBSTATIONS

• Time: A sizeable project can take several months or longer to complete, factoring in travel, accommodation and subsistence allow- ances for installation staff for the estimated duration of the project, etc. • Solution maintenance: Solar solutions are fairly self-sufficient once up and running, however they do need to be regularly maintained and monitored to ensure maximum efficiency and uptime. There are remote monitoring systems which proactively monitor for issues such as soiled solar PV modules, degradation, and wear and tear, sending an automatic alert when performance drops so that business- es respond accordingly and address the area of concern. This extends the longevity of the solution and can reduce the risk of downtime or system failure Conclusion Before embarking on a solar solution, businesses should make sure they use a reputable solar solu- tion specialist provider who fully understands the requirement before they begin. The service provid- er needs to be invested in software and hardware solar knowledge, and must be able to identify pos- sible areas of risk or concern so that they can be addressed at the initial phase - possibly even from quote stage. Finally, a competent service provider should have a demonstrable track record of suc- cessful solar implementations to prove their expe- rience.

winds or excessive rainfall. If the solar solution is going atop a roof, structural engineers will be re- quired to assess structural stability and strength of the building, and make structural enhancements if necessary. The stringent regulations of The Occupation- al Health and Safety Act must be adhered to, as inspectors may investigate a solar solution at any time during implementation. Failure to comply can result in very costly fines, as well as a halt in pro- duction until compliance is met. A formal Health and Safety officer will ensure that the project is registered with the Department of Labour, and that all standards are adhered to. There are also many other professionals that may be required, from electricians to environmen- tal impact assessors. It takes a team for a solar solution to be implemented in a sustainable and successful manner, and organisations should en- sure their solar solution provider includes these associated personnel costs in their quote. Additional things to consider There are several additional, yet, important as- pects that aren't always considered when plan- ning and implementing a solar solution, resulting in exceeded budgets, poor installation or even risk of fines. These include: • Impact of environmental factors: Wind, rain and proximity to the coast • Logistics requirements: Forklift and utility ve- hicle hire, and storage space required for the duration of the project • Insurance : Both during and after installation, to mitigate risk • Using reputable suppliers: Poor quality equip- ment, or civil work, will inevitably lead to hav- ing to do repairs and replacements before nec- essary • Applications: Depending on the scale and lo- cation of the solution, organisations need to lodge applications with various governing and regulatory bodies such as the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), the Depart- ment of Energy, the local utility provider, the department of Health & Safety, etc.

Companies should be aware of the challenges before embarking on their solar project.

Kevin Norris is the Consulting Solutions Architect: Renewable Energy at Jasco Intelligent Technologies.

Enquiries: Makwe Ngwato. Tel. +27 (0) 11-266 1547 or email makwe.ngwato@jasco.co.za

Electricity + Control

APRIL 2018

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