Article published in the 21st edition of the Magazine Canal Solar. Click here and now for free!
According to ABSOLAR (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy), Brazil will have an installed capacity of more than 2023 GW from photovoltaic solar sources by the end of 37,2. This total includes both large-scale plants and small-scale generation systems.
Still according to the same source, in 2023 more than 11,92 GW in photovoltaic plants were added, and this number tends to grow in the coming years.
The construction of photovoltaic plants emerges as a visionary response to the growing demands for clean and sustainable energy.
But after all, how do you build a photovoltaic plant?
Viability study
The first stage involves technical and economic assessment through feasibility studies, considering generation potential, investment costs (CAPEX), operational costs (OPEX) and return on investment.
Careful choice of location is crucial, prioritizing flat land in areas with high solar incidence, as this is the system's main efficiency factor. Furthermore, validating accessibility for transporting equipment and connecting to the electrical grid is extremely important.
Measurements
At this stage, measurements are carried out to identify the characteristics of the land, in order to prepare for the preparation of the executive project. Some of these studies are:
- Topography: used to map and represent the earth's surface, providing accurate information about elevations and reliefs.
- Standard Penetration Test (SPT): used to evaluate soil characteristics, these results are used for foundation design.
- Pull Out Test (POT): also known as pull-out test, is a procedure used to evaluate the adhesion strength between two materials.
- Soil resistance measurement: To be able to dimension the grounding safely.
Distributor project
To be able to connect the photovoltaic system to the electricity distribution network, the project is submitted to the local distributor. There are two phases: Estimated Budget (optional with a response period of 30 days) to assess the feasibility of the local network receiving the energy generated by the plant) and Connection Budget (to obtain approval for connecting the photovoltaic system, with a deadline response time of 45 days).
If it is necessary to carry out work on the distribution network in order to receive the energy generated, the energy distributor will indicate the costs and deadlines for this adaptation.
