UL's PV plant services developed to provide assistance to investors, developers and operators to make better and informed decisions as they assess the risks and uncertainties associated with designing and commissioning a PV plant. From the design stage to the commercial operation date (COD) and throughout the in-service lifetime of a PV plant, factors such as performance, energy yields and verification are critical.
Evelyn Butler, business development director of UL’s Energy and Industrial Systems business, sees the programme as a "natural extension" of UL's services. "UL has been a trusted independent third-party who has worked with stakeholders of the PV value chain for years,” she explained. "UL is now offering a one stop solution to all parties of a PV power plant – no matter where in the world the plant or customer is.”
UL’s suite of services can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the owner, operator or other stakeholder. Services include:
- Design review
- Yield assessment and due diligence
- Bankability
- Plant performance
- Reliability/durability
- Plant inspections
- Commissioning
- Plant verification
- Hardware certification and performance
Although UL has typically been thought to be involved further upstream in the PV value chain, Butler says UL has been involved end to end through its installer trainer, field evaluation services, certification services and working with AHJs. "We offer a total solution for PV power plants,” Butler stated.
For more on this article, look for the forthcoming May issue of Renewable Energy Focus magazine. In this extended feature, UL's Butler provides specific details on how the company's PV plant services take different regional factors into consideration. She also cites case studies illustrating examples of how the guidance UL provided has helped PV plant developers and operators mitigate risk. Subscribe online today!