August 26, 2021 | POSTED IN: All Solutions Panduit Solutions
Four Best Practices for Solar Installation Physical Infrastructure
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][image_with_animation image_url="9538" alignment="" animation="None" border_radius="none" box_shadow="none" max_width="100%"][divider line_type="No Line"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]As the solar industry has matured, photovoltaic (PV) panel has evolved beyond a scattering of simple panels to complex commercial and utility-scale installations with thousands of components, all with complex electrical and physical infrastructure needs.
Despite the increase in complexity, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that the levelized cost of utility-scale solar energy dropped 82 percent between 2010 and 2019. More than 90% of that drop is due to a focus on developing cheaper to produce, more efficient modules and inverters.
But now, as cost savings from PV module and inverter innovations continue to diminish, the industry is paying increasing attention to balance of system (BOS) and the potential cost and efficiency savings hidden within. BOS encompasses everything from batteries and storage to monitoring systems and labor costs but underlying it all is an installation’s physical and electrical infrastructure.
Over the past decade, Panduit has partnered with EPCs and solar installers on PV installations totalling more than 5GW of capacity. As such, we’ve accumulated considerable expertise on how to get the most out of a solar project’s physical infrastructure[/vc_column_text][divider line_type="No Line"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]
Simplify sourcing by partnering with a supplier with a wide portfolio products
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type="No Line"][vc_column_text]- A company may specialize in one type of component or application, but if those parts don’t work together with the other components in your system, it won’t matter how well the individual component performs.
- This is especially important—and risky—when it comes to electrical infrastructure. Unprotected, improperly connected, or incompatible connectors are an increasingly common source of PV panel failure and fires.
- The increasing use of module-level power electronic (MLPE)-based systems is only adding to the number of connection points in an average installation. Despite intermating of connectors being prohibited by the NEC, the practice remains common, partly due to a flood of generic connectors being marketed as “inter-compatible” with those of major manufacturers.
- Connectors may look the same, but without an accepted standard, the only way to ensure compatibility is manufacturer certification.
- Panduit’s combination of engineering and manufacturing expertise means our portfolio of renewable energy solutions is both broad and deep. Panduit can cover up to 75 percent of a typical PV installation’s electrical BOS.
Consider installation time when calculating the true cost of components
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type="No Line"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]Challenges
- General-use cable ties are common in many installations due to their affordability. But that doesn’t take into account the labor required to install them, or the cost of replacing them if they deteriorate.
- In commercial and utility-scale projects with hundreds or thousands of panels, application-specific components that can shave a few seconds off the installation time of each panel can result in significant savings on labor costs
- Cable installation challenges come with trackers and newer bifacial module technology
- Bifacial PV panels can produce up to nine percent more energy than a traditional panel, but obstructions between the ground and the panel, such as loosely hung cables, get in the way of this additional capacity.
Solutions
In order to response to these challenges, Panduit has provided solutions to help reduce wasted cable length and minimize blockage of valuable panel area.- Panduit’s cable clips are designed from UV-resistant nylon and engineered for quick installation
- Panduit offers clips developed specifically to keep cables secured tightly along the edge of bifacial panels or along the tracker axis without the need to drill.
Use components that meet IEC 61215 for weather resistance
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type="No Line"][vc_column_text]- Due to high maintenance costs can have a measurable impact on the profitability of a solar project, the IEC 61215 standard outlines testing requirements for PV modules and components to ensure they can withstand the harsh environmental conditions that can lead to broken connections, hot spots, ground faults, and other premature field failures.
- Panduit conducts extensive outdoor testing as part of our product development process to ensure our solutions perform under conditions that include high wind, high vibration, intense UV exposure, extreme temperatures, and corrosive atmospheres.
Consider using cable trays
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type="No Line"][vc_row_inner column_margin="default" text_align="left"][vc_column_inner column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/2" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]- On solar farms, cable trays are less labor-intensive to install, less costly to maintain, and easier to inspect than trenched conduit. For commercial rooftop applications, cable trays are a more secure alternative than stringing cable along the tracker where it is more susceptible to damage
- Cable trays also offer more design flexibility, but as project voltages increase, the main benefit properly installed cable trays and cable cleats can provide is increased protection for equipment and personnel
- In order to ensure cable cleats can withstand harsh environmental conditions and potential ground faults, they must meet IEC 61914:2015 standards. More stringent than NEC guidelines, IEC 61914:2015 sets requirements for resistance to electromechanical forces as well as temperature rating, corrosion, and UV resistance.
As the solar industry has matured, photovoltaic (PV) panel has evolved beyond a scattering of simple panels to complex commercial and utility-scale installations with thousands of components, all with complex electrical and physical infrastructure needs.
Despite the increase in complexity, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that the levelized cost of utility-scale solar energy dropped 82 percent between 2010 and 2019. More than 90% of that drop is due to a focus on developing cheaper to produce, more efficient modules and inverters.
But now, as cost savings from PV module and inverter innovations continue to diminish, the industry is paying increasing attention to balance of system (BOS) and the potential cost and efficiency savings hidden within. BOS encompasses everything from batteries and storage to monitoring systems and labor costs but underlying it all is an installation’s physical and electrical infrastructure.
Over the past decade, Panduit has partnered with EPCs and solar installers on PV installations totalling more than 5GW of capacity. As such, we’ve accumulated considerable expertise on how to get the most out of a solar project’s physical infrastructure
Simplify sourcing by partnering with a supplier with a wide portfolio products
- A company may specialize in one type of component or application, but if those parts don’t work together with the other components in your system, it won’t matter how well the individual component performs.
- This is especially important—and risky—when it comes to electrical infrastructure. Unprotected, improperly connected, or incompatible connectors are an increasingly common source of PV panel failure and fires.
- The increasing use of module-level power electronic (MLPE)-based systems is only adding to the number of connection points in an average installation. Despite intermating of connectors being prohibited by the NEC, the practice remains common, partly due to a flood of generic connectors being marketed as “inter-compatible” with those of major manufacturers.
- Connectors may look the same, but without an accepted standard, the only way to ensure compatibility is manufacturer certification.
- Panduit’s combination of engineering and manufacturing expertise means our portfolio of renewable energy solutions is both broad and deep. Panduit can cover up to 75 percent of a typical PV installation’s electrical BOS.
Consider installation time when calculating the true cost of components
Challenges
- General-use cable ties are common in many installations due to their affordability. But that doesn’t take into account the labor required to install them, or the cost of replacing them if they deteriorate.
- In commercial and utility-scale projects with hundreds or thousands of panels, application-specific components that can shave a few seconds off the installation time of each panel can result in significant savings on labor costs
- Cable installation challenges come with trackers and newer bifacial module technology
- Bifacial PV panels can produce up to nine percent more energy than a traditional panel, but obstructions between the ground and the panel, such as loosely hung cables, get in the way of this additional capacity.
Solutions
In order to response to these challenges, Panduit has provided solutions to help reduce wasted cable length and minimize blockage of valuable panel area.
- Panduit’s cable clips are designed from UV-resistant nylon and engineered for quick installation
- Panduit offers clips developed specifically to keep cables secured tightly along the edge of bifacial panels or along the tracker axis without the need to drill.
Use components that meet IEC 61215 for weather resistance
Due to high maintenance costs can have a measurable impact on the profitability of a solar project, the IEC 61215 standard outlines testing requirements for PV modules and components to ensure they can withstand the harsh environmental conditions that can lead to broken connections, hot spots, ground faults, and other premature field failures.
Panduit conducts extensive outdoor testing as part of our product development process to ensure our solutions perform under conditions that include high wind, high vibration, intense UV exposure, extreme temperatures, and corrosive atmospheres.
Consider using cable trays
- On solar farms, cable trays are less labor-intensive to install, less costly to maintain, and easier to inspect than trenched conduit. For commercial rooftop applications, cable trays are a more secure alternative than stringing cable along the tracker where it is more susceptible to damage
- Cable trays also offer more design flexibility, but as project voltages increase, the main benefit properly installed cable trays and cable cleats can provide is increased protection for equipment and personnel
- In order to ensure cable cleats can withstand harsh environmental conditions and potential ground faults, they must meet IEC 61914:2015 standards. More stringent than NEC guidelines, IEC 61914:2015 sets requirements for resistance to electromechanical forces as well as temperature rating, corrosion, and UV resistance.
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