SITE ASSESSMENT FOR SOLAR PV POWER PLANT

Overview
Researching the site conditions of an area for a potential solar application is very important for
the success and health of the project. Which variables should installers pay the most attention
to?

Solar resource is the most important site condition to

have reliable information. High quality solar irradiance data
is critical for site selection and system design.

Weather parameters also play a large role in solar site

assessment. Perry cited weather as a defining PV-operating
condition, as it provides a connection to historical and
satellite data for accessing annual solar resource variability,
ambient temperature and wind speed as two weather
variables to consider, each affecting the irradiance and
operational PV-module temperature. “If you only have data
on irradiance, then you’re missing a piece of the puzzle that
explains energy output”.

“Knowing the temperature profile of a site can also help you

choose the best equipment to handle weather extremes the
system may experience—different manufacturers specialize
in different temperature conditions.” The precipitation profile,
including snowfall, must also be considered for maintenance
purposes. The amount and type of precipitation at a site
affects soiling loss, which applies to pre-construction energy estimates and factors into cleaning
schedules during operation of the solar system, as well. Knowing the amount of snow a region
receives and when it will fall can help developers make pre-construction plans for handling snow
loads, and aim to control its influence on production.

Environmental Impact Assessment for the Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant is also an
important part of site assessment. The detailed assessment of the anticipated impacts were
undertaken with the purpose of highlighting any areas of concern regarding the proposed
project during its construction and operation and proposes necessary mitigation measures of
the significant impacts.

A site assessment is a critical part of the design phase. It directly affects cost and power output
of your future PV System. Our contracts are also dependent on information gathered and
extruded from the site assessment to provide you with the highest-performing and lowest-cost
energy plant available. Some loan and grant programs may require data that is ascertained from
such a report. Some cash rebates are also based off power output on an annual basis. The
highest performing system is ideally decreasing your ROI, so as to ensure maximum cash
rebates.
Purpose
Our site assessments are extremely comprehensive in nature. The purpose of a site
assessment is to determine and identify a number of factors: the site capacity of generating
energy, shading issues, how much revenue will be generated from the power plant, return on
investment (ROI), rebates and incentives, structural and electrical concerns, to name just a few.
The site assessment can also discover ways to save money in basic energy efficiency
improvements and more cost-effective ways to deploy a solar project on-site. After reviewing the
report, you will be able to make informed decisions concerning your project.

Terms
To qualify serious customers, a financial commitment is required. This site assessment fee is a
one-time charge and is refundable upon a purchase of a PV system from Energy Consultants
Group. This fee includes one primary site location and one alternate location, if required. Before
we perform a site assessment, we will pre-qualify your project before spending your time and
money. If it passes, we can move forward with the on-site assessment. Additional sites shall be
billed accordingly. We will require a minimum of twelve (12) months of electrical bills, but prefer
twenty-four (24) months. Most utility companies have an online report-generating feature. We
are looking for two things: billed rate and kWh billed.

Scope
We will make a visual inspection and take photographs and video. We will also bring our
instrumentation to site to measure shading, solar irradiance, azimuth, and tilt angle to name a
few things. We will inspect the structural integrity of the structure proposed for mounting the
system, review and inspect the existing electrical system and load center, ct and meter socket.
As indicated before, these factors all drive the performance and cost of the system. [All
renewable energy systems are sold by the kW (kilowatt).] To ensure your system is going to
perform at top level for 25+ years, it is crucial to perform a comprehensive site assessment.

Duration
You do not have to be present for the assessment, however, having complete access to the
facility is required. The assessment takes about one hour to complete on-site and typically must
occur during daylight hours. Once we gather the on-site information, we will return to our office,
consolidate the data, and generate a comprehensive report and formal proposal, if requested.
The typical turnaround time for reports is one (1) week after the on-site visit has been
performed.

Qualifications
Energy Consultants Group offers certified assessments backed by credentials earned and
administered through the MREA and NABCEP. The president of Energy Consultants Group also
teaches solar technology at the college level. With our years of experience, we can provide the
most comprehensive, accurate assessments available.