ELECTROFIX is proud to have been entrusted with the mammoth installation of the 1.3MW PV Generation Plant at the Vassallo Business Park in Burmarrad.
Design & Build asks Ms Deborah Schembri, Managing Director of Electrofix, to give us further information pertaining to this complex installation
Can you give us a small overview of how big this project is, and what it will be achieving once completed?
This was a challenging but at the same time a very rewarding project – a 1.3MW PV generation plant. It is significant to note that it is spread over an area of circa 6000m2 which means that it is larger than a football pitch. Electrofix installed a system with a total of 3340 panels. Logistically, it is a tour de force for our company.
Who benefits from this project?
This project will generate enough power to supply around 500 homes and all their inhabitants’ needs. Given the country’s size, this is quite a significant number. Apart from saving consumers’ money, the environmental impact is equally tremendous. It will mean that CO2 emissions will be reduced by 520 tons or the equivalent of burning 438 tons of coal. Very encouragingly for the atmosphere this is also equal to planting 712 trees.
“CO2 emissions will be reduced by 520 tons or the equivalent of burning 438 tons of coal”
What was the process involved in the execution of this project and what were the main tasks?
Following the creation and drawing up of detailed designs and complex coordination with all the service providers and the civil works people, all equipment and material were sourced and delivered to site. The installation happened concurrently with the civil works which means that the workflow had to follow the agreed plan. We went into so much planning detail because experience has shown us that one blocked cog could bring the entire machine to a halt. On balance, however, the execution went smoothly and the actual installation process took around 4 months which is very good going in this business.
Can you give me an example of when you had to really think outside the box to solve a problem for a client?
Due to the constraints and limitations imposed on the project by the site itself, a number of creative solutions are often required in order to meet the tight deadlines to complete the project. Quite honestly, we keep our thinking hats on at all times, trying to be ahead of the curve.
For instance, at one point we had to shift the location of the inverters from the place we had designated for them in the original plan. This had to be done in order to accommodate the work which needed to be carried out
This change, which on paper looks minor, in reality entailed some substantial re-designing. On the plus side, the time gained justified the effort. And when that happens it’s magic in this business.
In your experience, which part of putting a PV system in place usually requires the most attention?
As pointed out, the design is critical and it remains the main driver of any project’s success. An unspotted mistake at the design stage can have deep repercussions down the line. Once the design is spelled out in sufficient detail, and all the possible scenarios contemplated, the installation should be pretty straightforward. Obviously, each site poses its own challenges. But with some out of the box thinking with different scenarios, every challenge should be surmountable.
How do you manage to co-ordinate staff and material requirements to finish on time?
As I said, a rigorous project plan is the be all and end all in this business. This is what drives all the work to be carried out and which is tied to strict timelines. A good plan doesn’t mean a rigid one. Indeed, the right dose of flexibility is indispensable.
“A good plan doesn’t mean a rigid one”
Another layer of planning that runs in parallel is to have all the right resources on site at the right time and in the right quantities. In this way, planning the work can be carried out from around a week in advance. This means that any changes due to the weather or other issues can be tackled well in advance. Changes can thereby be contemplated, decided on and implement without veering off much from the established deadlines.
have a protection rating of Type 4K and are DC AFCI compliant to UL
1699B Type 1, with a maximum efficiency rate of 98.6%.
What services do you offer once the project is completed and running?
At the client’s discretion, any project can be fully maintained by Electrofix. If the client engages us for this job, the system is monitored on a daily basis by our specialised engineers. They keep tabs and ensure not only that the PV system is performing as it should but also that it is delivering all the power expected of it. Our engineers also go on regular site visits and issue regular reports to the client highlighting key factors that may affect production negatively.
Dirt on panels, which reduces the penetration of sun rays to the panel core, is one of the most common reasons why panels under-perform. For this reason we at Electrofix also offer panel cleaning as part of the maintenance agreement. This ensures that the maximum generation capacity of the panels is achieved.
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