Optimizing Utility-Scale PV

Iacharya offers Optimizing Utility-Scale PV services.

Optimization

  1. Optimization is an act, process, or methodology of making something as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.
  2. Focus on owner/investor objectives
  3. How to measure optimization?
      • Minimize capital expense
      • Minimize risk
      • Minimize LCOE
      • Maximize energy yield
      • Maximize TOD energy yield
      • Maximize project IRR

Two Main Considerations/Components

Optimize the entire deal

  1. Technical considerations
      • Minimize losses
      • Maximize yields
      • Iterate with real-time pricing
  2. Commercial terms
      • How deal is structured
      • Where risk is assigned
      • Securities and liquidated damages
      • Payment terms
      • Schedule

Optimization Requires Iteration

EPC’s unique role

  1. Constant feedback loop
  2. Ability to measure effects of iteration to maximize design, installation, etc.

Engineering Solutions with Real-Time Pricing

Match solutions to objectives:

  1. Tracker vs. fixed
  2. Crystalline vs. thin film
  3. Tilt and azimuth for Time of Day (TOD)
  4. DC/AC ratio
  5. High-efficiency vs. medium efficiency
  6. 1000 volt vs. 600 volts
  7. Distributed inverter vs. centralized inverter
  8. Skid vs. stick build
  9. AC/DC wire sizing for losses
  10. Transformation losses
  11. Discrete monitoring vs. centralized monitoring
  12. DB cable
  13. Aluminium vs. copper
  14. Redundancy/maintainability considerations
  15. Collector system voltage
  16. Land utilization, ground treatment
  17. Security considerations

An Optimal Solution: Owner/Developer Responsibilities

  1. Identify project constraints
      • Budget
      • Minimum energy yield
      • AC capacity or rated output
  2. Identify clear commercial terms early
  3. Fix key variables for comparison
  4. Identify evaluation metrics
      • LCOE
      • IRR
      • CapEx

An Optimal Solution: EPC Responsibilities

  1. Provide transparency for design/build delivery
  2. Supply break-out pricing for commercial terms
  3. Clearly identify assumptions/exclusions/clarifications
  4. Provide menu of additive/deductive alternatives
  5. Over-communicate!

Optimization of DC:AC Ratio

  1. Example: Utility-scale, fixed-tilt, crystalline with LCOE as optimization metric
  2. Consideration: Increased energy yield vs. increased module and BOP costs

Energy Output vs. Hours

(by Scenario and DC/AC Ratio)

MWH and LCOE vs. MW DC

Future Considerations

Once you optimize a plant, consider:

  1. Reliability
  2. Maintainability
  3. Operability