The engineering context
What the assignment needs to resolve
A CBG plant's electrical load often continues outside solar generation hours. Solar sizing should therefore begin with an hourly load profile and the site's grid arrangement, not only with annual electricity consumption. Installed kWp and reliably displaced grid energy are different quantities.
For a new ground-mounted installation, the assessment covers usable land, shading, access, drainage, soil conditions, cable routes and the connection point. A production estimate is then compared with daytime self-consumption, permitted export and the applicable tariff structure. Storage or backup, where required, is a separate design and economic decision.
Inputs for a useful solar assessment
| Input | What to examine | Effect on the proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Load profile | Operating equipment, shift pattern and daytime minimum load | Self-consumption and potential export |
| Land and layout | Usable area, shading, access and future plant expansion | Practical DC capacity and arrangement |
| Electrical interface | Connection voltage, sanctioned demand and protection requirements | Evacuation scope and approval dependencies |
| Energy model | Weather data, orientation, losses and degradation assumptions | Expected annual and monthly generation |
| Commercial basis | Tariff, export treatment, maintenance and replacement assumptions | Savings and sensitivity to operating changes |
Altpreneur scope
How we approach the work
Site and load assessment
Review interval or monthly consumption, available ground or roof area, shading, access and the electrical connection. For new CBG plants, use the planned load profile and expected operating schedule.
Technical design
Define the array, inverter, cable and protection concept. Coordinate structural or ground-support requirements, drainage, earthing and safe maintenance access.
Commercial evaluation
Compare self-consumption, export assumptions, tariffs and financing sensitivities. Confirm the applicable state and utility pathway for the proposed installation.
Execution and handover
Coordinate procurement, installation, commissioning documentation and operating handover within the agreed project scope.
Decisions worth getting right
Use the right savings boundary
Electricity generated, consumed on site, exported and curtailed should appear separately. Applying the retail tariff to every generated unit can overstate savings.
Allow for plant expansion
A solar layout should not block future process equipment, roads, fire access or maintenance movement. Review the long-term site plan before fixing the array.
Keep grid and backup functions explicit
A conventional grid-connected solar system does not automatically provide power during an outage. Any islanding or backup requirement must be designed and approved specifically.
Assignment outputs
What you receive
- Site and demand assessment
- Indicative capacity and generation model
- Electrical and layout concept
- Scope, budget and execution programme
- Commissioning and maintenance documentation
To begin
Useful starting information
- Electricity bills and demand profile
- Site location and available area
- Grid-connection details and operating hours
Scope and responsibility
Grid approvals, export permissions and tariffs are location-specific. Conventional grid-connected solar alone does not maintain supply during a grid outage; backup requires a separately engineered arrangement.
Common questions
Can solar supply all CBG plant electricity?
Daytime output and plant demand must be compared hour by hour. Night operation, starting loads and outages require grid or appropriately designed backup support.
Can the study cover ground-mounted solar before construction?
Yes. Available ground, grading, shading, irradiation, grid distance and the plant's other land requirements should be assessed together.
Evidence & further reading
Source material
- US Department of Energy: Solar potential and PVWatts estimation
- US EPA AgSTAR: Project Development Handbook
Technical references inform the discussion. Final design, operating limits and policy eligibility depend on the project and applicable current documents.