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With an increase in the number of utility-scale PV power plants being built, as well as on a wider geographical basis, quality standards across the industry have come into question, according to TÜV Rheinland. In a breakthrough attempt to provide the highest possible standards from design through to commissioning system supplier, Conergy is the first to partner with the testing services provider to provide best practices in the PV power plant sector.
“The testing carried out with our expertise and the certification of the large Conergy plants to our standards is a first in the industry,” commented Wilhelm Vaaßen, head of the Solar Energy Assessment Centre at TÜV Rheinland. “The aim is to offer investors optimum security and transparency. With this partnership, we are going down new avenues to foster the concept of quality and ensure bankability for large plants in a comprehensive manner.”
Taking the initiative, all future planned power plants built by Conergy will be evaluated and certified to standards dictated by TÜV Rheinland. Included in the certification will be planning and safety-relevant tests as well as plant yield measurements during the commissioning process. The end result is to obtain high yields for the customer and confidence in the bankability of the project with maximised long-term security as an investment.
Conergy said that even before a project starts the construction phase, its engineers will make ‘Critical Design Review’ checks, while during construction, repeated quality assurance checks will be made on site.
Safety-related testing of the electrical installation will follow the standards and the detailed criteria set out by TÜV Rheinland. The organisations said that elements that are examined independently include the quality of the yield forecast, the plausibility of the plant concept, an analysis of the suitability of the plant components in terms of quality, safety, long service life and plant performance, beside the quality of the installation work being carried out. Repeat checks after construction are also envisaged.
“With this step, the leading independent testing institute of the sector confirms that our quality standards in planning and plant construction far exceed the levels generally prevailing in the industry and that our customers receive a thoroughly secure deal from a single source,” added Heinz-Peter Tienken, Vice President Conergy Global Large Projects.
