The decision to install solar panels on your facility is a step-by-step process that’s easy to understand.
There are four basic phases for any solar project: Evaluation, Development, Construction and Operations. Each phase is broken down into sequential steps.
The development phases are shown in this simple graphic:
Remote Evaluation
The Evaluation phase is equivalent to the sales process at Alectric Renewables. We can conduct an Evaluation at no cost to the end user.
1. Is my roof good for solar panels?
To be cost-effective, a roof should have at least 50,000 square meters (500,000 + sq ft) of available roof area.
This allows us to install a system of 500 KW – a size where systems really start to deliver excellent returns on investment. (Solar PV systems have ‘economies of scale’ like many other types of investments.)
The roof should be mostly free of gas lines, air conditioning units and roof anchors. Buildings which are low to the ground with a large area are best. The roofing material should be new or relatively new.
2. How much electricity do I use, and what is it worth?
We analyze 12 months of your electricity bills, and we model the effect of a solar generator on each line item on your bill.
This allows us to calculate the avoided cost of electricity – the amount you will save for every kWh generated by a solar project.
3. How big should the system be?
It’s useful to obtain ‘interval data’ – the raw material which produces your electricity bill. This data is available from your local utility, and consists of an excel or .csv formatted spreadsheet with a numerical value for every hour of every day of the year.
We can analyze this data to ‘right-size’ your system. This is a ‘nice to have’ not a must-have, but it can tell us for example, how much electricity from the solar panels might be ‘self-consumed’ on site, and how much might be exported to the grid for a credit on your bill, or how much might be sacrificed – in the case of a load displacement system where those kWh can be generated, but not self-consumed or exported.
4. What electrical equipment do we need to connect to?
Just like the available roof area sets a ‘limiting factor’ on how much DC solar capacity can be installed on a building, the amperage of the main site service sets a capacity limit on how much AC power can be connected as ‘distributed generation’ – another term for solar power. The more amps, the larger the solar generator.
5. Financial analysis
Understanding the site-specific conditions and your real cost of electricity is key to generating a cash flow projection for a solar project. Once we understand the capital costs, potential incentives, tax benefits and depreciation, we can model the cash flows for the project over the long term, giving building owners a sound basis to make the investment in solar power. We recommend either connecting on a ‘Load Displacement’ or ‘Net Metering’ basis, depending on which has the better Return on Investment
Development
This phase occurs after we have signed a Design Build Contract. The phase is divided into three stages: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction.
1. Engineering
If the either of the steps in the engineering phase determine that a solar project is not viable, either because the roof cannot support solar panels, or because the grid cannot accept a new connection, the balance of the contract is null and void, and the client is no longer obligated.
During the project our clients enjoy access to our online construction management portal, where they can see the development of the project in real time, and where all project documents are made available. This allows total visibility on the project, and to understand who is responsible for what tasks, what the necessary next step is to advance the project to the next stage, and who owns that task.
- Can my roof support solar panels structurally?
Our structural engineer conducts an evaluation, taking direct measurements and working with the available structural drawings. He issues a sealed report. This forms the basis for an engineered racking design. Both stamped designs are submitted to the City Building Department, for a Building Permit.
- Can the Utility accept a grid-tied solar connection?
Alectric Renewables engineers visit the site, and develop a set of stamped engineered electrical drawings. We submit these to the local Utility, pay the Application Fees, and the utility will carry out a System Impact Study, to determine if the grid can support the proposed interconnection.
The Utility will then issue its bill for Connection Costs, which is paid by the End User directly.
Once these Costs are paid, Alectric Renewables submits electrical plans to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, which confirms that they meet the local electrical safety codes.
2. Procurement & Construction
- Once we know that a) the building can support solar panels, and that b) the utility will accept a grid connection, we need to procure major components and materials. Alectric Renewables takes progress payments on these components, and ownership is transferred to the client.
- Once all materials are procured and ready to install, and once all permits are received, Alectric Renewables mobilizes to the site, and builds the project. Solar racking is built first, and modules and DC strings installed. Our quality control officer is constantly monitoring the installation to ensure that it meets the highest standards.
- Daily Health and Safety reports are provided, via our online construction management portal. Health and Safety is our number one priority every day, and it never takes a break.
- Interconnection & Commissioning take place once the Utility has provided and installed its equipment, and the system can go live. A series of performance tests are carried out and documented, and submitted back to the relevant engineers. Permits are closed.
- Close out binders are prepared, containing all of the project documentation required by the Owner for the maintenance of the system.
- Alectric Renewables supports our clients in their submissions for Investment Tax Credits, property tax abatements, or other grant applications relevant in their jurisdictions.
3. Operation and Maintenance
Your solar project will perform as expected, because we stand by our engineering and construction work with a 5 Year Workmanship Warranty, the best in the industry.
The Warranty is conditional upon an Operation and Maintenance Agreement. The number one reason why solar PV systems suffer down time is due to faulty installation. Quality Control is our top priority after Health and Safety.
Our online monitoring system is checked every day to ensure systems are performing as they should. Our clients have access to the same data.
Once per year, Alectric Renewables conducts an inspection of our installations, and generates a report demonstrating its performance, and documenting any technical issues which need to be rectified or repaired. This report can be submitted to insurers if required.
