Page 35 - North American Clean Energy May June 2018 Issue

Fixed Tilt System in Snow
This photo is typical for Canadian snow accumulation. Leading edge ground clearance for fixed tilt and tracking systems in the north must take snow accumulation into account.Typically, minimum required clearances are one meter, but that is not always sufficient for heavier snow loads.
New benefits and installation certification
Fronius is expanding its Fronius Solutions Provider (FSP) program, a network of solar installers who are certi ed and trained directly from the manufacturer. Formerly known as Fronius Service Providers, the renamed loyalty and training program o ers solar installers the ability to provide quality service to their customers in both installation and service.
e Fronius Solutions Provider trainings now also include design and installation aspects of Fronius solutions in the residential and commercial segment. With this quali cation, FSPs are able to provide
their customers with high-quality solar solutions
and can support them seamlessly over the lifetime
of a system. e unique O&M solution of the FSP program eliminates the need for inverter exchanges, which typically causes wait times for the new unit
and potential re-wiring and re-inspection. Quali ed installers can service inverters directly on site, with only one truck-roll, guaranteeing maximum system uptime as well as satis ed system owners. In addition to providing better solutions to their customers, FSP certi ed installers receive a multitude of bene ts, including higher reimbursements for warranty work, a direct phone line to Fronius technicians, regular visits from the Fronius team, continuing education, and opportunities for beta testing of upcoming products. Fronius also supports FSPs with joint marketing activities and sales trainings.
Fronius USA LLC | www.fronius.com
Solar wire management products
Advanced Cable Ties, Inc.’s NYLON 12 Cable
Ties are molecularly designed to withstand the harsh rays of the sun and corrosive outdoor elements. e unique properties of Nylon 12 make it a solution for engineers designing for solar and wind power applications as well as other extreme climate environments. Nylon 12 Cable Ties resist temperature uctuations, are chemical resistant, and insensitive to stress cracking. e smooth edges eliminate abrasion damage and won't cut into panel cables. Low water absorption and high density maintains the stability of the cable tie providing ultra-long lasting performance for solar panel systems. Advanced Cable Ties produces a complete range of sizes from 5" up to a 14" heavy duty in convenient contractor packaging of 100 per bag and 1,000 per case, made in their Gardner, MA facility. Advanced Cable Ties, Inc. www.advancedcableties.com
per hour works well). Trackers also need to hold up against heavy snow loads - 50 psf is ideal.
Push back against any suggested use of I-beam or C-channel foundations in place of helical piles. While cheaper than deep-set helical piles, these foundations have a history of failing in northern soils.
The right execution
EPCs who know the region can work through the winter without compromising quality. For example, the north’s construction season usually coincides with the rainy season, making trenching tough, expensive, and harmful to the environment, if not planned well. Ideally, trenches should be dug up and back- lled during dry, storm-free periods. During the spring thaw, special attention must be paid to sediment and erosion control measures.
Don’t overlook the working environment. In one case, the construction trailers used throughout a cold winter had no source of heat; with no way to warm up, on-site crews ended up making mistakes they likely wouldn’t have in better working conditions.
Local building codes in emerging markets, where standards are still being developed, are frequently older, and ill equipped to accommodate solar. In the case of one 10-megawatt solar farm, the original pile contract was $1.6 million for materials and installation, with a six-to-eight-week installation schedule. To save money, however, the contractor put pilings in only to the minimum required depth. By the time spring rolled around, frost heave had displaced nearly every piling. Remediation costs climbed to nearly $8 million -- more than four times the cost of the original contract -- and stalled the facility’s operational date for six months.
Seek out an EPC who schedules time for documentation, training, O&M preparation and QA/ QC processes, long before the nish line is in sight.
The right partner
An EPC partner familiar with the region, particularly in newer markets like those in the Midwest, Northeast, or Canada, can o er designs and products suited
to snow, wind, uctuating temperatures, and uncertain topology. ese regions may not yet have solar-speci c building codes, leaving data open to interpretation. Don’t look for the lowest short-term costs. Instead, do careful total cost analysis from start to nish. Experienced partners know that a project’s true cost requires factoring in the lowest mean time between failure, and avoiding remediation costs for issues that should be addressed during installation.
Trench, MN
This open trench in Canada flooded during heavy rains and required 24 straight hours of pumping before the cables lying next to it could be placed. Flooding like this is common during spring and autumn, particularly during thaws.
Choosing the most bankable partner helps establish the best possible backbone to support a plant’s 20-year lifespan. EPCs with an integrated PV solution, combining proprietary products with a turn-key installation package, can o er substantial advantages over a piecemeal approach.
David Pichard is Vice President and COO, Rob Souliere is Director of the Product Division, and Eugene Koval if Director of Engineering – EPC Division at GP JOULE. GP JOULE is a global renewable energy company with an extensive
track record developing, engineering, constructing, operating, and nancing commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic ground mount installations. GP JOULE provides a full range of PV products and services with complete in-house and local execution that includes civil, mechanical, and electrical expertise. Globally, GP JOULE has installed over 500 MWs of PV projects and manages 600 MWs of assets across Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and the United States.
GP JOULE | www.gp-joule.com
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