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Solar Engineering Consultants - SgurrEnergy

Solar PV power plant are often considered to be simple construction project, but the reality is that essential methodology and implementation techniques are often ignored because of delays starting the project or the need to meet the commercial operational date (COD) deadline in the power purchase agreement(PPA) sgurrenergy.com

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139 views

Solar Engineering Consultants - SgurrEnergy

Solar PV power plant are often considered to be simple construction project, but the reality is that essential methodology and implementation techniques are often ignored because of delays starting the project or the need to meet the commercial operational date (COD) deadline in the power purchase agreement(PPA) sgurrenergy.com

Uploaded by

Sgurr Energy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Solar PV Projects – The Case for

Independent Construction Monitoring

By Dhiraj Madje
[email protected]

SGURRENERGY SOLAR ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A solar PV project is divided into various essential aspects of infrastructure such as: electrical
engineering, civil engineering, module mounting structures, weather monitoring stations, and
supervisory controls. In order for a solar power plant to achieve the desired generation values, it
is vital that the design conceptualization translates into implementation on the ground. This means
that every aspect of engineering and construction needs to be properly validated, documented,
and easily accessible during the project cycle.
Th article provides a high-level overview on the importance of independent monitoring during the
construction phases and its implementation techniques with the help of site quality assurance
documentation. The presence of independent engineers during various project phases such as
initiation, planning, and execution will help solar power plant developers and engineering,
procurement, and construction (EPC) companies achieve acceptable solar power plant quality
standards.

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in


INTRODUCTION
Solar PV power plants are often considered to be simple construction projects, but the reality is
that essential methodology and implementation techniques are often ignored because of delays
starting the project or the need to meet the commercial operational date (COD) deadline in the
power purchase agreement (PPA).
Basic health, safety and environment (HSE) site quality documentation such as the field quality
plan (FQP), installation checklist, pre-commissioning checklist, and testing checklist are
frequently treated as being unimportant. Even imperative guidelines that detail project
construction activities such as the method of statements (MOS) or technical work procedures
(TWP) are regularly ignored or neglected by the EPC. These plans and procedures can be
implemented and adhered to as a project progresses with the help of independent engineers.

NEED OF CONSTRUCTION MONITORING


These actual images from project sites illustrate low quality civil engineering work that was
executed in the absence of supervision or construction monitors.

Figure (A) Figure (B)


Lack of supervision and underutilization of implementation quality checklists has resulted in
structural post pile cap erosion after heavy rains in Figure (A). Improper grouting and insufficient
finish to the foundation bolts of the structural pole can be observed in Figure (B).

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in


Figure (C) Figure (D)
Figure (C) shows deformed structural bracing members for the installation of module mounting
structures that is the result of implementation quality checklists not being used along with no
independent oversight. Deformed bracing can be replaced, but in Figure (D) the support post has
been installed at an incline, which will result in instability to modules. These low quality mistakes
are repairable, but at a high cost and the rework will consume precious time towards meeting
project completion deadlines. Such issues have been observed to be accepted by developers as
defects. Quality lapses are commonly observed and noted in the electrical infrastructure as well.
Modules can be damaged or even broken beyond acceptable limits, leading to higher costs for
project installations. Compromised quality can lower energy generation, causing a project to fall
short of the target output for which it was selected.
To mitigate the above concerns, solar PV project construction should typically progress through
the following stages: planning, conceptualization, schematic design, construction design and
drawings, and most importantly construction administration to ensure that quality control and
assurance is implemented throughout the project lifecycle illustrated in Figure (E).

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in


Acceptance

Initiation/
Commissioning
Planning

Execution/
Conceptualization
Construction

Figure (E): Project Life Cycle

Appointing a designated team of engineers for construction monitoring during the project phases
to confirm the implementation of quality control and assurance systems would achieve acceptable
quality plant standards at delivery. These engineers would principally help contractors follow
consultant, developer, and manufacturer recommendations during installation, testing, and
commissioning for all the project components. They would compile records of all the installation
and testing results in the form of checklists, which will in turn make the project documentation
stronger and more useful for future O&M.
Construction monitoring of solar PV plants needs to be performed in the interest of quality control
and to resolve issues that arise due to non-conformance to standard industry practices. In this
model, every task is completed in a sequential manner and the steps include resolving common
problem or lapses as shown in Figure (F).

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in


Significance
Assessment
Defining the
problems or Mitigation
quality issues Weighing the
Implementation
with potential options for
Choosing
hazards. resolving the
potential Evaluation
issues. Implementatio
solutions to
mitigate the n of solutions Evaluating the
problems. to mitigate the
problems. quality of the
implmentation
.

Figure (F): Quality Control Steps


CONCLUSION
Project construction monitoring teams would apply their knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques
to project activities to assure they meet established project safety and quality requirements. They
would also be proficient at helping EPCs in implementation aspects such as following quality
plans, utilizing check lists, completing compliance reports, resource management, etc. It is
essential for the solar industry in India to appoint construction monitoring teams so that a standard
level of project construction can be achieved and maintained.

White Paper | Need for Independent Construction Monitoring | SgurrEnergy- www.sgurrenergy.in

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