ONLINE
CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM
INSTALLATION OF SOLAR POWER
PLANTS
MODULE 1 B
INSTALLATION & WORKING OF
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
DO YOU NEED BE A MANUFACTURER ?
Many prospective customers ask, are you the
manufacturer of solar power plant? Where is your
factory? How many people work in your company?
And so on.
It is very important to understand that solar power
plant is combination of various parts. These parts
need separate huge infrastructure or a plant to
manufacture
In fact, installation is an EPC (Erection Procurement
Commissioning) contracting. It is closer to project
management contracting and consulting.
For example, Solar Panels. Again, a solar panel is
made of several parts like solar cell, structure, EVA,
junction box, cables and so on. All these parts of
solar panels are also normally manufactured
separately. The important parts of a solar power
plant are solar panels, inverter, distribution boxes,
energy meter, net meter, DC cables,
AC cables, structure, earthing and lightening
arrestor.
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Module 1 B
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR INSTALLATION?
SITE SURVEY
After the techno commercial feasibility and
finalization of the system specification, a final
bill of material is prepared.
The site survey is done accurately. Panel
layout drawing is prepared. The panels are
laid ensuring that they are placed in a
shadow free area. Water tank, Lift unit,
Staircase wing, shadow of adjacent buildings,
trees and even panel on panel shadows are
eliminated.
The panels must be placed in north
inclination, facing south. The ideal angle in
degrees is equal to the latitude of the location.
In Mumbai the latitude is 19 degrees. Hence, at
19 degrees inclination, the panel facing clear
south will get maximum generation.
However, it is very difficult to get an ideal
condition. In such cases the designing team
will choose the best possible placement.
TYPICAL 3D DRAWING OF LAYOUT
After the survey, the drawing team
typically prepares a layout with
the placement of panels, the
direction, describe the height of
the structure, angle of the panels
and so on. The same is discussed
between various teams including
the customer. After everyone
agrees, the design is finalized.
STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
After the customer and installer approve the design, the same is shared with
structure manufacturer. Here, specifications and number of every part of the
structure like beam, pillar, purlin, nuts and bolts is finalized. After such specs are
finalized, the manufacturing of the structure commences.
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Module 1 B
STRUCTURE FABRICATION
Normally, galvanizes MS structure is used.
There are standards specified for all the parts
of the solar power plant and the same are
adhered. There are aluminum structures too.
Normally structure is customized as per
customer’s requirement. However, standard
structures are also available.
Attempts have been made to even
standardize the solar power plants of various
capacities.
The manufacturing of structure may take 2-3 weeks. All the parts of the structure
should be checked and verified at the manufacturing facility before transporting it to
the site. Many drawings and diagrams
are made for the cable layout
and connections with meters.
One of them is called SLD
(Straight line Diagram).
Various other documents are
prepared for application with the
power distribution company for
net meter.
In the meantime, various other
parts need to be sourced and
acquired. There may be a lead
time between placing the order
and delivery at site.
Solar Panels, inverter, cables, distribution boxes, switches, energy meter, earthing and
lightening arrestor is procured and delivered at site.
DIFFERENT EXPERT TEAMS
There is a survey team, design
team, technology and procurement
team, electrical team, structure
installation team, panel installation
team, installation and supervising
team, liaison team certification
team and commissioning team. All
work is well defined and distributed
to experts.
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Module 1 B
DIFFERENT STAGES
Installing structure:
The pillars to be installed are marked on the
floor. There is a process by which the floor is
drilled, the pillar is installed, water proofing is
done, and the block is constructed. This
method is typically for a RCC terrace.
However, there are many types of roofs,
terraces, ground, water body, etc., areas
where the solar panels can be installed. Each
site will typically require a design and
engineering customized as per requirement
meeting all the standards specified for solar
power plant installation.
Installing Panels:
Once the structure is ready, all the panels are
placed over the structure. The installation is
very strong and robust that it will survive wind
speed of 160 KMPH.
Connecting all the panels:
Each panel has solar cells. Each cell is
connected. A negative and positive wire
comes out of the panel and reaches the
junction box. In system design the lot of
panels is decided to form a string. Say for
example if there are ninety panels, one can
make ten strings of nine panels or five strings
of eighteen panels. The number of strings
also depends on the type and capacity of an
inverter. All the cables strings are laid and
brought to the inverter.
Installing Inverter:
Inverter is installed near the panel installation.
This means in a building where the panels are
installed on the terrace, the inverter is
installed in the wing of the staircase near the
entrance of terrace. All the cables from the
panels are connected to DCDB Box.
From DCDB Box all the cables are inserted in
the inverter. From inverter AC cables are
pulled out and are connected to ACDB Box.
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Module 1 B
DIFFERENT STAGES
Laying of Cables:
DC Cables are connected from
panels to inverter. AC cables are
connected from Inverter to
meter. From ACDB Box the
cables are drawn and laid from
the top floor to the bottom floor
in the electric meter room. There
is a solar meter which will
display solar generation. Circuit
breakers are installed at various
points. From solar meter the
Solar Panel Back side cable is connected to net meter.
The net meter is also connected
with cable coming from the grid.
From this point the power is
distributed to various loads.
Net Meter:
There is a process as per Net
meter policy of the state. Factors
like contract demand, capacity
of the transformer are important
Inverter for net meter. There is inspection
from the distribution company,
testing of net meter and
installation of net meter.
Commissioning:
Finally after all the above
process, the solar power plant is
commissioned.
kokusolar@gmail.com
+91-9820037904
This study material is sole property of Koku Solar Pvt. Ltd. and is for private
circulation only. It is to be used specifically by the students registered under
various training programs of Koku Solar. All rights reserved.
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