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Presented by: Refex Energy Limited.

SWITCH ON THE SUNSWITCH ON THE SUN

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MANAGING UNCERTAINTY IN EPC

2nd Annual Conference SOLAR MARKET IN INDIA 2013

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Flow of Presentation

• About Refex Energy .

• Lifecycle of EPC

• Risk Involved at Various Stages

• EPC of a Solar Power Project

• Case Study – 5 MW SPP

4Refex Energy Limited

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AN EPC CONTRACT TYPICALLY HAVE

• Scope and the specifications of the plant

• Quality

• Project duration

• Cost

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PROJECTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IF

• Defines guarantees well

• Defines scope and quality very carefully

• Defines milestones meticulously

• Defines LD/penalty clauses

• Makes payment terms very specific

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RISK ASSOCIATED WITH EPC

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ENGINEERING RISK

• Basic Design 1. Lack of attention to Local Design Requirement2. Design Failure3. Change in Project specifications .

• Detail Design 1. Converting Basic to Detail design .2. Lack of expert Human Resources 3. Lack of Design Quality

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PROCUREMENT RISK

• Inappropriate vendor list .• Imperfect data transmission to vendors .• Lack of experience in inspection and forwarding . • Communication matters between Consortium

Members .• Delay in paying and receiving project invoices

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CONSTRUCTION RISK

• Soil and site bed problems • Unsuitable weather conditions .• HSE matters • Labor & Sub Contractors issues .• Delay in deliveries .

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COMMISSIONG

• Non Consideration of Pre-Commissiong Requirements.

• Delay in Final Inspections .

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EPC- TO LAST A LIFETIME

A Typical Solar Power plant should last for 25 year with at least 80% Generation at the end of 25th Year. This purely depends on following factors:

•Selection of a good EPC company with in house Design capabilities to understand the site and location and provide optimum solution for the same.

•Selection of best equipment's and components to build the plant

•The EPC Company’s capabilities to deliver on site the plan and design laid down on the table.

•A good and quality O&M service provider to ensure the plant is maintained well for the next 25 years

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EPC- TO LAST A LIFETIME

In designing the site layout, the following aspects are important, The electrical design of a PV project can be split into the DC and AC systems. A.The DC system comprises the following:• Array(s) of PV modules. • Inverters. • DC cabling (module, string and main cable). • DC connectors (plugs and sockets). • Junction boxes/combiners/disconnects/switches.• Protection devices.• Earthing.

B.The AC system includes:• AC cabling. Switchgear.• Transformers. • Substation. • Earthing and surge protection.

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EPC- TO LAST A LIFETIME

Plant design:

Choosing the correct technology (especially modules and inverters) is of central importance.

• A module assessment would include cost, power output, benefits / drawbacks of technology type, quality, spectral response, performance in low light, nominal power tolerance levels, degradation rate and warranty terms.

•Inverters include compatibility with module technology, compliance with grid code and other applicable regulations, inverter-based layout, reliability, system availability, serviceability, modularity, telemetry requirements, inverter locations, quality and cost.

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EPC- TO LAST A LIFETIME

Typical issues that arise during the construction of a PV

project include:

•Foundations not being suited to ground conditions.

•Discovery of hazardous / contaminated substances during

excavation.

•Incorrect orientation of modules.

•Insufficient cross-bracing on mounting structures.

•Incorrect use of torque wrenches.

•Damaging cables during construction / installation.

•Delayed grid connection.

•Access / construction constrained by weather.

•Insufficient clearance between rows for vehicle access.

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EPC- TO LAST A LIFETIME

Commissioning:

Commissioning should prove three main criteria:•The power plant is structurally and electrically safe.•The power plant is sufficiently robust (structurally and electrically) to operate for the specified project lifetime.•The power plant operates as designed and performs as expected.

Commissioning tests are normally split into three groups:

•Visual acceptance tests

•Pre-connection acceptance tests

•Post-connection acceptance test

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Vituza 5 MW – Project Description

• Location: Vituza village, near Balotra town, Distt Barmer, Rajasthan.

• Module: Crystalline Silicon modules • Technology:

Sunny Tripower 17000 TL inverters from SMA String Inverter used for the first time – Easy to replace

hence reducing plant downtime Higher levels of plant efficiency achieved 628 MPPT’s were used to overcome shadow losses

resulting in higher generation SCADA – combination of Meteocontrol and SMA

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• Site Conditions: Huge Sand dunes at the site Approx. 2,51,000 cu. mtr of sand had been moved and land was

leveled. Soil and Murrum was arranged from outside to cover sand to prevent soil erosion. Stone Pitching work of 8000 sq mtr, height 17m (max.) for entire perimeter (i.e. E, N & W sides), along the plant’s boundary was carried out to support the raised platform.

Pile Foundation was used for supporting structure. The piling was done by auguring.

The solar PV plant looks as if built on a fortress.• Project Completion: Site leveling began in June end and the project was

commissioned on 14th Oct 2011. Refex is engaged with the O&M of this site.

Vituza 5 MW – Project Description

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Vituza 5 MW

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Vituza 5 MW Plant Performance – 8,834,100 Kwh in 2012

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Thank you !

Presented by : Chandresh JainEmail : Chandresh.jain@refexenergy.com

Visit us at : www.refexenergy.com