Aggressive RPS targets are yet to be met, which means utility scale PV plants are one of the most attractive renewable projects to develop, the main reasons being PV is a bankable technology, does not require water & still works with limited solar resource.
Yet, balance of systems (BoS) has barely earned a second glance. However, these components account for slightly more than 50% of the cost of a total system. More significantly BoS components offer a largely untapped opportunity to improve the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar plants.
The LCOE is one of the most important figures when negotiating a PPA, but it would be fair to say that securing a PPA can be considered the easy part when compared to actually ensuring the plant performs as expected and within budget. Any slight miscalculation in LCOE dramatically impacts the bottom line, and in a market where every cent counts developers could soon be running unprofitable plants.
Also the reassurance of buying cheap modules for quick cost reductions is no longer an option with market prices stabilizing, and with poor quality products running the risk of lower efficiency. That’s why intelligent balance of system engineering is pivotal in squeezing out those key efficiency gains that could drive your profit margins.
Whether it be poor component selection, flawed plant layout, costly wire design or badly executed O&M, Balance of System Engineering done inadequately costs time, money and output. The Europeans experience and more mature solar farm market means they hold valuable information that US developers and EPCs need and want. It is critical for the PV players to have an effective strategy in order to prevent lower efficiencies, higher costs and an exceptionally high LCOE – what does this mean? The PV industry in the US can quickly catch up with its counterparts in Europe, and save businesses from running the risk of being unprofitable & terminating PPAs.
CSP Today, the organisers of the Utility Scale PV Yield Optimization Conference & Expo taking place November 30 – December 1 in San Jose, have published their research findings on the key issues facing Balance of System engineering, including: inverter reliability & durability, mounting, corner junction boxes, wiring design, string level monitoring, inverter monitoring, 1-axis & 2-axis trackers, grounding lugs, roof membranes, as well as warranties and shaping component standards.
For additional information:
CSP Today Utility Scale PV Yield Optimization
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