Commercial and utility scale solar pv installation subcontractors: How to pick the best ones and why it's important

8/12/2019 Commercial and utility scale solar pv installation subcontractors: How to pick the best ones and why it's important.

1/4

Commercial and utility scale solar pv installation

subcontractors:How to pick the best ones and why it's

important.

Why is it important to pick the best ones?

The Pareto principle (also known as the 8020 rule) states that for many events, roughly 80% of

the effects come from 20% of the causes !n the case of solar pv pro"ects, the installation phase is

clearly part of the 20% that generates 80% or more of the results The cost of the installation

accounts for a#out $0% of the pro"ect #uget &et, the results of the construction phase

etermines whether the pro"ect is a success or a failure

There oesn't have to #e a massive construction isaster, with fire an eplosions, for the pro"ect

to fail !t can #e something as su#tle as connecting to the gri on pril $st instea of *arch +$st

This is why you shoul really focus on the construction phase an choose the #est people to work

http://activiagroup.com


2/4

with on this

The best solar pv contractor for you: ho is the #est- hat oes 'high .uality' mean in terms of

solar installation-

High uality.

/#viously, you want to complete construction as soon as possi#le to start generating energy an

revenues n you want to make sure you generate as much energy as possi#le to maimise

revenues igh .uality construction means the plant is commissione as soon as possi#le an the

operational efficiency is $00% (meaning actual generation e.uals esigne generation) 1o, all of

your panels are installe, wire an connecte to the gri &ou mae the ealine 3ut how is the

efficiency- !t oes you no goo to have a solar farm complete within the ealine #ut only

operating at 40% efficiency #ecause a wrong transformer was installe or ca#les have a #roken

insulation

There are key factors essential to the successful completion of a solar plant's construction The

contractor nees the right people The people nee the right resources There has to #e goo

communication esta#lishe #etween everyone involve in the pro"ect, incluing the contractor

an you

The best solar pv installer?

hen looking for the #est solar pv installation su#contractors, verify whether the company you are

talking to meets the criteria of 5the #est contractor6 !n other wors, you want to make sure thecompany hasthe right people, the right resources an can communicate

sk for an check references 7earn a#out the installer's eperience very soli, successful

company loves to give references 9ontractors love to talk a#out their successes an complete

pro"ects They will #e more than happy to show you their last or current "o#

hen it comes to resources, it's all a#out money &ou want to work with a contractor that has

enough cash in the #ank to pay eperience people, #uy goo tools an e.uipment an hire

re.uire plants !f a company is anious for your own payment that shoul raise a flag :un a

creit check to see if they are cash poor The last thing you want is a esperate company

goo way to know the communication style of your potential contractor is to ask for things that

you know are impossi#le, an unrealistic ealine for eample The response the installer gives tells

you a lot a#out his communication style &ou want to work with people who will present their

perspective #ase on their #est knowlege as they are suppose to #e eperts in their fiel ;uring

the pro"ect construction phase, you want to have all the information a#out the process, even the

#a, uncomforta#le ones


3/4

Comparing commercial or utility scale solar pv offers.

7et's say you have short=liste potential installers you think are goo enough to work for you >ow

it's time to compare the offers Please keep two things in min?

@irst, check the scope of works in the offers *ake sure you are comparing apples to apples #y

making sure you an the contractors are talking a#out the same scope of works The etails a up

an can #e significant @or eample, who is responsi#le for unloaing an hanling material- !s the

contractor suppose to hire plants or will you have them on site-

1econly, when comparing prices, remem#er that the cost of construction is typically less than

$0% of the entire #uget 20% ifference in the cost of installation is a less than 2% ifference in

the pro"ect #uget *oreover, the price in the offer is only the agree upon cost for certain tasks

an therefore, might not #e the complete cost There might #e etra works or a nee to fi an

repair something The cheapest way to #uil a solar plant is to o it correctly the first time withiligence Then you know the plant is an will #e working an generating cash for you

Things you might want to consider when building a solar farm.

!http:""activiagroup.com"en"node"#$%

!t's going to #e a #usy year in the AB for the large solar farms construction The time pressure is

huge an connecting a pro"ect larger than 4*p in pril 20$4 is not an option ;ownloa insights

from the front line of a solar construction site that might #e useful when esigning an #uiling

your pro"ects that will save you time an money

http://activiagroup.com
http://activiagroup.com/en/node/87http://activiagroup.com/en/node/87http://activiagroup.com/en/node/87http://activiagroup.com/en/node/87


4/4

#out ctivia 1olar 7t@oune in 20$0, hires over & people( complete over )) *Wp of solar pro"ects locate in the

AB, 3elgium,

Documents

Commercial and utility scale solar pv installation subcontractors: How to pick the best ones and why it's important