Project Management: Assessment 2 | Solar Plant Construction

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project management: Assessment 2
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
1
Executive Summary
The paper mainly focuses on Australia’s solar plant construction in NSW in order to provide proper
facility of electricity even when sunlight is not available. The project mainly aims to evaluate as well as
investigate current best practices as well as different types of engineering and PM approaches. It is found
that the paper analyses WBS, Gantt chart and the use of Pert chart in the project. Moreover, the
challenges as well as issues which are generally faced in properly producing the required information
which are generally collected. Furthermore, a number of strategies are illustrated in order to overcome the
challenges as well as the lessons which are mainly learnt after undertaking the project.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................................4
2. Clear description of the project................................................................................................................4
2.1 Description of the project..................................................................................................................4
2.2 Project scope......................................................................................................................................4
3. Analysis of the chart................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Work breakdown structure.................................................................................................................5
3.2 Gantt chart reflecting interdependencies and milestones...................................................................9
3.3 PERT chart......................................................................................................................................13
4. Discussion of current industry best practices and new engineering and PM approaches.......................14
5. Conclusion and recommendations.........................................................................................................17
6. Challenges faced in producing the needed information and strategies for overcoming challenges........18
7. Competencies........................................................................................................................................20
Bibliography..............................................................................................................................................21
Appendices................................................................................................................................................24
Appendix 1: Gantt chart.........................................................................................................................24
Appendix 2: WBS..................................................................................................................................25
Appendix 3: PERT chart........................................................................................................................25

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
3
1. Introduction
The paper reflects on the construction of Australia’s largest solar plant for providing greater
energy reliability as well as for producing electricity during peak periods rather only depending on the
sunlight hours. The project mainly aims to properly evaluate the present industry best practices as they are
generally related with the organizational as well as project in large scale engineering perspectives. The
paper generally helps in researching on a number of engineering and different types PM approaches for
reflecting the significance of different types of engineering practices. Additionally, the paper generally
analyzes WBS, Gantt chart as well as PERT chart that further focuses on the project critical path as well
as possible slack and float times. Furthermore, the challenges which are mainly faced while producing the
information as well as the ways that are helpful in overcoming such challenges are also elaborated.
2. Clear description of the project
2.1 Description of the project
The paper reflects on the Australia’s largest solar as well as battery power plant construction in
NSW in the year 2018. This project is helpful in providing a greater reliability and further helps in
allowing the entire solar farm to effectively produce electricity during the peak demand period rather than
only depending on the sunlight hours. This will generally play a very much significant role in successfully
offsetting some of the thermal generators in the region in order to bring a number of opportunities for
those who generally look to transit from fossil fuels into the renewable energy sector of the organization
(Latimer, 2018). It is found that once it will be built then Sunraysia will generally be much more than
double the current solar plant size which will helpful in generating 102-megawatt facility at Nyngan in
NSW. It will further take the entire mantle of the largest operating solar project within the southern
hemisphere. It is found that the total cost that is mainly required for construction will be around $275
million. The entire solar farm will be around 17 km from Balranald in NSW. It will further be helpful in
generating around 530 megawatt hours of electricity that helps in providing powers in both the states.
The project is also considered as one of the solar farms in NSW that utilizes batteries in order to store
excess amount of power.
2.2 Project scope
Project scope generally serves as the foundation of planning, managing as well as successfully
executing the project work quite effectively and efficiently. The project scope for constructing Australia’s
largest solar plant is mainly listed below:
 Construction of Australia’s solar plant in NSW within the budget that is around $275 million.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
4
 Preparation of the site as well as mounting different types of supporting structures
 Installation of the solar panel as well as inverters and connecting properly within the grid
 Proper monitoring of the entire set of the system
3. Analysis of the chart
3.1 Work breakdown structure
The WBS table which is provided below assists in showcasing the activities, duration, resources
as well as different types of costs which are mainly needed for successfully executing the activities of the
project.
WBS Task Name Duration Start Finish Resource
Names Cost
0
Australia's
largest solar
plant
363 days Thu 15-02-18 Mon 08-07-
19
$
275,000,000.00
1 Initiation
phase 31 days Thu 15-02-18 Thu 29-03-
18 $ 10,960.00
1.1 Development
of business case 8 days Thu 15-02-18 Mon 26-02-
18 Project manager $ 3,200.00
1.2
Undertaking
cost benefit
analysis
6 days Tue 27-02-18 Tue 06-03-
18
Financial
manager $ 1,920.00
1.3 Establishment
of project charter 10 days Wed 07-03-
18
Tue 20-03-
18 Project planner $ 3,600.00
1.4 Appointing
team members 7 days Wed 21-03-
18
Thu 29-03-
18 HR manager $ 2,240.00
1.5
Milestone 1:
Completion of
initiation phase
0 days Thu 29-03-18 Thu 29-03-
18 $ 0.00
2 Planning
phase 53 days Fri 30-03-18 Tue 12-06-
18 $ 18,160.00
2.1 Development 9 days Fri 30-03-18 Wed 11-04- Project manager $ 3,600.00

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
5
of project plan 18
2.2 Development
of resource plan 10 days Thu 12-04-18 Wed 25-04-
18 HR manager $ 3,200.00
2.3 Financial plan
development 12 days Thu 26-04-18 Fri 11-05-18 Financial
manager $ 3,840.00
2.4 Quality plan
development 10 days Mon 14-05-
18 Fri 25-05-18 Quality manager $ 3,200.00
2.5
Risk
management plan
development
12 days Mon 28-05-
18
Tue 12-06-
18 Risk manager $ 4,320.00
2.6
Milestone 2:
Completion of
planning phase
0 days Tue 12-06-18 Tue 12-06-
18 $ 0.00
3 Execution
phase 259 days Wed 13-06-
18
Mon 10-06-
19
$
274,960,480.00
3.1
Creating
blueprint for the
solar plant
30 days Wed 13-06-
18
Tue 24-07-
18 Designer $ 9,600.00
3.2 Preparation
of the site 35 days Wed 25-07-
18
Tue 11-09-
18
Contractor,
Supervisor, Land
cost [1]
$ 74,789,720.00
3.3
Mounting
structure as well
as panel
construction
27 days Wed 12-09-
18
Thu 18-10-
18
Construction
manager,
Contractor,
Equipment cost
[1]
$
100,020,520.00
3.4 Solar panel
construction 29 days Fri 19-10-18 Wed 28-11-
18 Electrician $ 10,440.00
3.5 Electrical
collection system
30 days Thu 29-11-18 Wed 09-01-
19
Contractor,
Supervisor,
$ 32,400.00