Solar Panel Construction Project: A Comprehensive Guide

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UNIT 1 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1.................................................................................................................................................3
P2.................................................................................................................................................5
LO2..................................................................................................................................................6
P3.................................................................................................................................................6
P4.................................................................................................................................................8
LO3..................................................................................................................................................9
P5.................................................................................................................................................9
P6...............................................................................................................................................11
LO4................................................................................................................................................12
P7...............................................................................................................................................12
P8...............................................................................................................................................12
P9...............................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................19
References......................................................................................................................................20
List of Figures
Figure 1: Site preparation................................................................................................................4
Figure 2: Construction of the solar panel........................................................................................5
Figure 3: Solar panels......................................................................................................................6
Figure 4: Components......................................................................................................................6
Figure 5: Working............................................................................................................................7
Figure 6: Introduction....................................................................................................................14
Figure 7: Slide Note 1....................................................................................................................14
Figure 8: Manufacture technology.................................................................................................15
Figure 9: Slide Note 2....................................................................................................................15
Figure 10: Mono Si technology.....................................................................................................16
Figure 11: Slide Note 3..................................................................................................................16
Figure 12: Poly-Si technology.......................................................................................................17
Figure 13: Slide Note 4..................................................................................................................17

Figure 14: Amorphous Si technology............................................................................................18
Figure 15: Slide Note 5..................................................................................................................18
Figure 16: Film of solar panels......................................................................................................19
Figure 17: Slide Note 6..................................................................................................................19

Introduction
The report discusses the construction of solar panels. The report contains various tasks that are
categorized in LO’s and in every LO there are various tasks that need to perform. The project
that is selected is based on a solar panel where the discussions related to the method adopted for
the development of the solar panels are discussed in detail. The cost analysis, timeline of the
project and the overall duration that is taken by the project for its completion is added in the
report. For different stages of the project at different timescale, a Gantt chart is also created that
is describing all the stages and the overall duration of the project. Moreover, a presentation is
also added in the report in order to develop an understanding of the mechanism and structure of
the solar panels.

LO1
P1
Project Identification
The topic of the project is Solar Panel and various problems while the construction of the solar
panels as well as their solution is provided here. For constructing and installing the solar panels
there are various methods and proper strategy that need to follow especially for installation at
large scale. There are various steps that need to follow like first it is necessary to visit the
location and take proper measurements of the area; this is also referred to as the site preparation
engineering. The site engineering preparation includes the area that is needed, the location of the
sun and many such factors.
Figure 1: Site preparation
(Source: 19january2017snapshot.epa.gov, 2019)
Next is try selecting appropriate materials as well as methods of the construction. For installation
of the solar panels in the buildings it is necessary to insulate the building envelope. Try to design
and construct a low energy intensive transportation of the panels. All these are basic points that
need to keep in mind while the construction of the building (Skouri et al., 2016).
Research Methods:
There are various research methods that are taken into consideration while the construction of the
solar panels. By performing proper research it is found that it is beneficial to make a strategy that
needs to follow for the proper construction and installation of the solar panels so that in

minimum cost the panels can be installed and they are divided into three main strategies that are
Development cost, in-use cost and recovery cost.
Let’s discuss them individually:
Development cost covers the overall cost for creating and development of the project. The
development of cost planning is the major step for an organization to decide so it is observed that
they spent maximum time for this phase (Ran et al., 2017). It is planned that the development
cost can be minimized and this can be done by designing the project with the locally and easily
available materials, expensive material can be avoided for the construction, readily available
components can be used.
Figure 2: Construction of the solar panel
(Source: Image.slidesharecdn.com, 2019)
For the In-Use cost reductions, it is recommended that the labor hired should be skilled and of
high efficiency so that the quantity of the labor can be minimized and work can be completed
efficiently. Use of the materials that need minimum maintenance can be used for the construction
of the building. Such small measures can be taken into consideration for the minimization of the
in-use reductions (Parrado et al., 2016).
Recovery costs are the case that is considered in very few cases. For proper recovery costs, there
are few steps that can be followed like recycle the potential as well as the demolition easily can
be taken into consideration for the designing phase. The use of the project that already exists can
be considered. There are many such similar steps that can be used for recovery costs.
By following these strategies there are many projects that are constructed and are sustainable so
this project is based on the discussion on those projects and strategies that are listed above for the
construction as well as the sustainability of the solar panels projects (Rong et al., 2018).

P2
For the construction of the solar panels there are six different and essential components that are
available and they are: Solar photovoltaic cells, glasses that are thick nearly 3-4mm, a frame
made of aluminum, an EVA layers of the films, backsheets of the rear polymer and a box for
the junctions that contain the diodes as well as the connectors (Tender et al., 2018).
Figure 3: Solar panels
(Source: Cesa.org, 2019)
Solar PV cells are the main component that is used in the creation of the solar panels as these
cells help in the conversion of the sun light into DC energy that helps in generation of the
electricity (Hu et al., 2017).
Figure 4: Components

(Source: CLEAN ENERGY REVIEWS, 2019)
The cost of the overall solar panel is based on the PV cells that are taken in use. Most commonly
used materials in the solar panels are:
Amorphous – Silicon (a-Si), Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Crystalline Silicon (c -Si) and Soluble
platinum (Organometallics).
Figure 5: Working
(Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019)
These are the materials and cost of the solar depends on which material is getting used.
LO2
P3
The timescale for the construction of the solar panels:
S.No Activity performed Date starting Date end Duration
1. Site preparation visit 15/04/19 20/05/19 35
2. Documentation and permits 20/05/19 31/05/19 11
3. Equipment gathering and
ordering
1/06/19 09/06/19 09
4. Installation of the solar panel 09/06/19 11/07/19 32
5. Interconnection and approval
of the connections
11/07/19 15/07/19 04

Costs that are related to the roof solar panels is given. They may vary from place to place but
these are the approx values:
Component Cost Percentage of cost
PV Crystalline modules 52,000 52%
Installation 8,000 8%
System Balance 17,000 17%
Inverters 23,000 23%
Total 1,00,000
Acceleration depreciation:
Items Cost
Cost of 100kW rooftop plant 1,00,000
Depreciation @80% 80,000
Tax 35%
Saved tax by depreciation 28,000
Net overall cost 72,000
The above cost estimated is approximate values that can cost in installation and development of
the solar panels over the rooftop of the houses (Herrando et al., 2017). The cost to develop a
solar panel on the large area is expensive and requires a large amount of labor as well as material
and resources. The costs of materials required are shown in the above table so the quantity
required for the large scale may vary according to the requirements.
Gantt chart
CPM AND PERT

P4
Issues that occur in the construction of the Solar Panel-
Micro-Cracks- The first issue that could occur during the construction of the Solar Panels is the
Micro-Cracks. These cracks don’t actually cause the production loss but eventually, it gets
increased and damages the system. In order to mitigate this issue, multiple bush bars are used or
installed so that the production doesn’t get lost.
Snail-trail contamination- The next issue that often gets occurred in the construction of the solar
panel is the Snail-trail contamination. It is mainly the discoloration of the panels. This mainly
occurs after some years of the construction. Mainly, this gets occurred due to the use of the
defective paste. This issue also leads to the occurrence of the microscopic cracks and could be
resolved using the above-mentioned method.
PID effect- This is the next issue that often gets occurred and there is no such solution that could
mitigate this issue. PID mainly expressed as Potential Induced Degradation, which mainly
caused due to the difference of the voltage between the panel and the earthing and this leads to
the loss of the power.

LO3
P5
Step 1: Project Planning
Every project starts with a proper plan and that plan needs to be followed properly. The plan is
created by firstly considering the project name and the various requirements of the project. After
the plan gets selected, the implementation work gets started and also the proper implementation
plan is followed.
Step 2: Securing Permits
Almost 100% surety is given for securing the data. The work after getting the proper plan tends
to start but the most important that comes in mind in the security. Security is considered one of
the most important parts of any of the management of the Project. Here, the project is of
construction of the Solar Panel that contains a number of components that if not used in a proper
could damage things and also the components involved are a bit expensive so this causes the
high requirement of the security (Entrop and Vasenev, 2017).
Step 3: Schedule Review
After the first two steps, the next step that comes in is reviewing the Schedule. After the schedule
gets created, the review is needed to make sure that the work would be completed in the proper
manner and the appropriate result will be obtained. This is also seen as an opportunity created for
the feedback at the initial stage. This works as feedback as if provided to the clients.
Step 4: Construction
Moving on the next step is the main step where the construction takes place. The construction is
done according to the plan and the proper process is involved in constructing the solar panels
(Tender et al., 2018). Construction is the most important part that decides the fortune of the
project is it is going to succeed or not and in this project, the construction must be done as it is
the main process of the project that makes the project run.
Step 5: Municipality Sign-Off
After the construction part gets completed, the next and one of the most important parts is the
Municipality Sign-off. This part mainly contains the inspection of the part constructed by the
governing municipality. They mainly check the entire construction work, the quality of the work
being done and also the security measures. This stage could take the work to the next step but
sometimes the work is needed to be added on in this stage as well.

Step 6: Utility Sign-Off
This is the last and the final step of the installation process. By the end of this point, all the
paperwork, documentation and the construction gets completed and also the proper review of the
project gets completed. The government officials validate the work and when the work gets
verified or accepted, this step ends up the entire process of the management of the project.