PV Approval request –

technical part
Technical Training
11 July 2012 – Cluj
Eng. Michele Lauritano
Contents
•PV Projects
•Tools:
•CRM
•Approval
•Approval process
•Technical Approval Sructure:
•Project location
•Array data
•Inverter details
•Grid connection
•Grid codes
•Environmental detals
•Buyouts
•Conclusions
 PV projects
A PV project in Emerson CT is characterized by:
 Several departments/people involved in different countries: Sales, Engineering (and
E&D), Purchase, Manufacturing.
 Variable time from rise of interest to order
 Variable project characteristics but standard product
 High risk involved in projects
Documentation attached to the project:
 Data of the project (technical, commercial, communications) need to be collected,
analyzed and sorted.
 Pricing info or quotations have to be created
 Technical analysis to be done: sizing, check of requirements, ad hoc analysis (PVSOl
PVSyst, temperature, etc…)
 Others (contacts, datasheet, brochure, orders, contracts, etc..)
PV Projects - Order Winning Process
1. Find Sales = Red
Prospect Systems & Project
Management = Blue
Internal Sales = Yellow

2. Raise
Interest

3. Enter Project Quotation.doc,

in CRM Super Contract
CRM Super
Office
Office

PV Approval
9. Prepare
Request.xls, 4. Qualify
Quotation &
CRM Super Sizing Tool.xls Project
Contract
Office

5. Collect
Technical
Requirements

6. Develop
Technical
Proposal &
Approval

Cost 10. Send

7. Calculate
Calculation Quotation &
Costs
Contract

11. Negotiate Price & 12.

8. Check & Not
Price & Contract Communicate
PV Planning Book Capacity Ok
Contract Ok? Changes
Tool

Ok

13. Receive
Order
Tool - CRM - Super Office
 Collecting all relevant contact infos and relationship for:
Customers, Investors, Suppliers, Enduser, Partner
 Collecting all project infos and the relationships to different contacts
 Entering all sales opportunities to provide an actual pipeline for planning
processes like capacity and POR

Important: before working on Approval and Sizing, create a project in SO!

Tool - PV Approval Request
Objectives:
 Standard format to collect project data used by :
 Engineering for sizing & technical check
 Internal Sales to prepare quotations
 Legal responsible
 Managers
 Reduce technical risks with commercial impact for Emerson & customer
 Document processes to meet quality standards like ISO 9001
Approval Process
Technical Doc Customer = Black
Sales = Red
Standard Pricelist Systems & Project Management =
Blue
Price No Approval Required E&D UK = Brown
Information

Approved
Check Ok
Sizing if Possible To Quote
PV Approval Request
Quotation for :
Inverter

Approved
Sizing Tool Check Ok
To Quote
Quotation for :
Inverter-Station PV Approval Request
String Boxes
Scada System

Technical Check
Qualifying Docu Check Approved
Ok Check Ok
New Supplier Capacity Check To Quote
Frame Contract

Changes to inverter design

and standard options
à Approval from E&D required
Technical Approval structure

 PV Array data:

 Inverter details:

 Grid connection requirements

 Environmental details
 Buyouts (shelter, MV trafo,
switchgear, SCB&Monitoring)
 Further comments
 Approval note
 Project profile and location
 Derived information:
– Temperature Range
– Climate
– Irradiation/regional
factor
– Elevation
– Distance from sea
– Which grid regulation
are valid
– Which buyouts
PV array data
Quantity of array/SPV  number of SPV to offer
Use several spreadsheet in case arrays have
PV module identification data different characteristics
Array data  Input data for Sizing tool
If this data are specified a sizing tool can be
Module temperature range created.

Earthing of the PV-module

According to the type of panel, isolated, negative, positive ground can be selected (to be
checked with panel manufacturer ) It may affect the warranty!
Inverter details
 SPV model and VAC level  resulting from Sizing tool
 Specific requirement of PF to be ensured  affect sizing
If required in the connection
documentation

MPP range
Obtained from VAC

 Ambient temperature (inverter) Installation condition of the inverter (range [0-45]

must be ensured)
 SPV option:
Fuse sizing: we suggest but customer
– DC connection:
responsibility
– Chopper: if advised (the customer can require this as option)

Chopper is a critical component: if equipped good sizing

with tolerance on its rating, tolerances on Voc, do not equip
at high elevation (h>2000m), check if really necessary.
Grid connection
Grid code need to be
 Grid regulation compliance verified before offering!

In particular the MV level determines the

 Grid connection characteristic sizing of MV buyous

 Grid tolerances
Are derived from sizing: they determine the quality of the sizing or how much the sizing is
tolerant to variation of parameres (grid voltage, MPP range, utilization)
Grid codes – compliance
Europe:
 Germany: BDEW2008 unit certificate (TUF Nord) and simulation model for plant certificate
 Italy: CEI0-16 declaration + MV monitoring
 France: Arrêté du 23 avril 2008 declaration + approval process
 Spain: RD661 and RD1565/2010 requiring FRT for plant > 2MW
 UK: G59/2 fulfill requirements for acceptance + G59/2 relay in MV + possible test at
commissioning
 Connection can be done also: Czech Republic, Belgium, Greece, Poland - acceptance on project
base, possible negotiation with power utility.
Middle East
 Israel: E&D engaged
Asia:
 Thailand: PEA declaration and additional V/F protection relay
 India: inverter offered with European certification (BDEW2008) and compliance to be proved case
by case (different rules for each state).
US:
 UL1741 certification in progress
Environmental details

 Check altitude:
– H <1000m ok
– 1000m < H <2000mm derating of 1% per 100m
– 2000m < H <3000mm derating + no chopper
– H>3000 not possible…
 Pollution/dust/salinity:
– in extremely dusty conditions or close to the sea (<1.5km) cooling through
ventilation is not advised (air conditioning)
 Ambient temperature:
– point of start for the temperature used in sizing
– Temperature checked from internet database/measures provided/PV Sol historical
min/max are used
Buyouts
 Shelter:
– Concrete:
• Graeper - Germany
• Ferrari - Italy
• Ormazabal / Selma - Spain
– Metal: Elbag
 Transformer:
– Siemens, EGB, or provided by shelter manufacturer
 Switchgear:
– Ormazabal, Schneider, or provided by shelter manufacturer.
 PCC and Power measurement: depending on country
Only approved components can be offered.
Array monitoring and SCB

 Provide a suggested sizing for boxes and fuses

 Skytron solution (SCB + Monitoring)
 Weidmueller (SCB)
 Meteocontrol (SCB + Monitoring)
 Final Approval & Comments

 Report in comments:
– All useful consideration done in sizing
– Calculation (PV Sol, PV Syst projects)
– Project-specific observation
– Open points/questions to ask to customer/sales engineer/technical engineer
 Final approval:
– According to the stage of the project (Approval need to be updated in case of modifications
on project)
– Comments referring to the stage
– Dates
– Conditional approval in case some information still need to be confirmed/filled in
Conclusions
 The technical approval is quick summary of the data of the project
with enough details to create the quotation and justify it technically.
 How to fill in the approval
– Fill in the approval as well as you can (according to the stage:
preliminary, quotation, 2nd quotation etc..)
– Key-information need to be contained in approval and not only in
emails…
– Put a note if something is not clear/sure or if more cases apply.
– Put a note if something changes (possibly with a date of modification)
– Refer clearly to analysis/documents/email inside the approval; in case
add an object/attachment
– A well compiled approval saves a lot of time!
Questions ?
 Thanks for your attention