What you need to know about EL Testing of Solar PV Modules

Solar PV modules are the key components of the solar power systems that are the ideal renewable solutions for electricity. The PV modules consist of cells through which the sun rays are converted into current. When current passes through these cells, light is emitted from them. This phenomenon is referred to as electroluminescence. Testing the modules by observing their electroluminescence (EL) is a great way to detect any defects in the distribution of current or the structure of the modules.

EL testing is, therefore, used at various stages of the solar O&M to identify a number of structural issues.

The most common issues that can be identified through EL testing include the following.

Minute cracks may appear in the silicon wafers that form the solar PV cells. This can be a result of damage that occurred during the manufacturing, delivery, installation, or operation of the modules. Microcracks can cause the cell part to become inactive, having varying effects to none at all.

These cracks are more severe since they stop of flow of current passing through the area. Hot spots and thermal dissipation also occur which damages the panel due to heat. It’s imperative to identify these cracks before more damage occurs to the panel.

When the modules are being soldered, at times, the temperature may not be high enough. This leads to cold soldering which eventually causes interference in the connection between the cell ribbon and cell tab. Apart from the loss of power, the cold soldering can also turn into hot spots which become a fire risk.

Bypass diode failure means that one of three cell strings in the module gets switched off. This leads to a decrease in the output by one-third. In these cases, the biode should be replaced instantly to prevent this loss and avoid any junction box burn.

A long series of interconnected solar panels make up the solar power plant with the ability to create high voltage. Low-quality cells may not be able to keep up with the large voltage which leads to failure. This Potential Induced Degradation (PID) defects can be easily identified through EL testing.

Dead cells are no longer able to conduct current, often caused by mechanical stress as a result of a cell crack.

EL testing of solar PV cells does not have to be conducted at a defined time frame in the course of the projects. It is beneficial for different reasons at different stages of the project.

It is useful to identify any defects at the beginning, as the cells and modules are being manufactured. It reduces the rejection of batches and future warranty claims.

An inspection conducted by a third part also offers the buyer confidence in regards to the quality and the efficiency of the modules. Any required replacement is then done before it reaches the destination.

This is essential to identify any damages that occurred in the process of transportation. Bad handling of the modules will lead to cracks or micro-cracks, for which, the buyer can claim replacement and transport insurance.

Bad handling during the installation process is also likely to cause damage in the form of cracks and breakage. EL testing can identify these accidental damages and prevent future loss.

EL testing is also useful to assess the after-effects of floods, cyclones, hailstorms, and other unavoidable calamities. The results can be used to get protection against future losses caused by the calamity. This is especially important since insurance policies tend to have a certain time frame within which the damage must be reported.

Overall, EL testing can help to identify and therefore rectify a number of different types of damage at any stage of the solar PV module project.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on June 14, 2022.

Picking the best EPC Business Model for your Solar Plant

 

Solar energy is the most sustainable energy that is abundantly available on the planet and has the potential to match our daily needs. The Government of India is very supportive of Solar EPC companies, with the Ministry of Finance providing low-interest loans for private and public sectors.

So if you are thinking to start your own solar EPC company, here are the basics and two business models that are widely used in the industry to get you started.

What is an EPC company?

EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction. As the name suggests, EPC companies combine the main three components of creating quality products and services. The major advantage here is that the company has full control over the production of everything.

EPC Business Models

EPC business models are a way to work with customers by offering them the equipment and services they require while outsourcing the high-value engineering and construction expertise. This makes for a great system, especially for solar businesses.

There are two common business models in India for EPC companies, namely the CAPEX model and the RESCO model.

In the CAPEX model, the buyer generally hires an EPC company as their prime contractor. Here, the company is in charge of management and procurement for its value chain. An excellent example of a leading solar company that uses this model is Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Private Ltd. Having over 90 years of experience in the industry, they are known as the largest global EPC and MEP contractors.

In the RESCO model, the company provides you with renewable energy which you can pay for as you consume. The customer does not hold ownership of the Solar Power Plant but the seller and buyer share roles for handling all equipment and personnel for their project.

Make the choice based on the kind of equipment and services you are interested in providing. Here’s your green signal for a green business!

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on June 7, 2022.

What is Floor Rise Charge (FRC) & How to Calculate It?

 

Buying a home comes with many costs, especially when you are purchasing a high-rise apartment. One aspect of the pricing involved in the agreement value is the floor rise charges. Floor rise cost comes under PLC which stands for Preferential Location Charges and it majorly affects all real estate purchases in India. It is a charge that is not governed by any regulations and so they vary from city to city.

Here is a guide to explain the basics of floor rise costs and how they can affect your purchase.

What exactly is floor rise charges (FCR)? — Definition

Floor rise quotations are charges determined by the construction company in respect of an apartment located on floors above the fourth floor in their building. It is calculated on the basis of the cost of construction, interest during construction and overheads. These charges are calculated per sq. meter/per sq. ft. as per the total area of your desired apartment. Based on the particulars of location, the charges can range from Rs.25 per sq. ft. to Rs.100 per sq. ft. Some companies also charge you a higher price for a higher floor.

Calculating Apartment Floor Rise Charges (FCR)

The most common method of calculating this cost includes charging a particular price per floor or charging X% per cent of the entire project cost.

Let’s look at an example to understand how it works.

Imagine you have booked a property with a carpet area of 500sq.ft. If the rate of the area is Rs.2000 per sq.ft., the basic price will be calculated as Rs.10,00,000. In addition to this cost, you will be bound to cover the GST, PLC and stamp duty. If floor rise charges are applicable to your project, say it is at Rs.50 per floor, and your apartment is on the 10th floor, the final price will increase by Rs.500 making Rs.2500 per sq. ft.

This means, that your base price + floor rise charges = Rs.2500 x 500 sq.ft. = Rs.12,50,000 (excluding other charges)

Make sure you speak with your realtor to take you through the price breakdown so that you are fully aware of all the additional costs involved prior to making a purchase.

Happy Dream Home Shopping!

Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate is a name to reckon with in the real estate sector. It is part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group — an enormous multi-business conglomerate. The group has a 150-year legacy of creating great spaces, from the earliest structures of India to modern marvels.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 25, 2022.

What are Builder Floors?

 

The booming real estate market is currently spoiling investors and homebuyers for choice. Homes don’t just come in tall, multi-storey apartment buildings anymore — there are villas, row houses, and even builder floor developments. The latter is an especially promising option because it offers all the luxuries of a private dwelling with the conveniences of a residential building. Builder floors are low-rise buildings where each floor is an individual apartment, taken up by a number of renowned real estate developers.

Multi-storey apartments are usually the most preferred option with around 60% of first-time homeowners choosing it as per a recent survey. The appeal could be the community living aspects along with the variety of lifestyle facilities. However, independent living has its own premium appeal today. Having the whole floor to yourself with extreme flexibility and privacy is attracting an increasing amount of buyers.

Bringing independent living to the larger masses, builder floors have three notable benefits that should be considered by home buyers and investors alike. Privacy

Having your own floor in a low-rise residential colony is definitely a luxury. This premium choice offers more control over your environment as well as private access to resources like water supply and electricity.

Space

These floor units also guarantee plenty of space, usually spanning over 1500 sq. ft. with a floor plan of 2–4 BHK. This extra space is the best asset especially when you have complete liberty when it comes to decor and renovations. With the required permissions, owners are able to customize their space without the hassle of reluctant neighbors.

Costs and Dividends

Although these homes are more expensive than those in a multi-storey development, they offer complete independence and flexibility that can otherwise only be offered by much more expensive private plots. This desirability ensures great dividends from rental income. Lesser amenities and shared spaces also reduce the maintenance cost. On the other hand, there might be a higher per flat average cost of maintenance due to the private power and parking facilities.

When deciding whether to go for a multi-story or a builder floor apartment, it comes down to the choice between affordable or the ideal lifestyle. Builder floors offer that comfortable, luxurious life for those that want complete liberty and privacy.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 18, 2022.

What you need to know about Eureka Forbes

 

Now considered one of India’s leading health and hygiene brands, Eureka Forbes was founded as a joint venture in 1982. It is the union of the Tata Group company Forbes and Campbell with Electrolux of Sweden. The multi-product, multi-channel organization dominates markets with iconic products from water and air purification systems to cleaning systems and security systems.

What is Eureka Forbes?

Eureka Forbes has been delivering cutting-edge health and hygiene products with the latest in technology for four decades. It was formed with the vision of offering its customers a happy, healthy, safe, and pollution-free life through lasting bonds as a ‘Friend for Life. Now, Eureka Forbes serves more than 20 million satisfied customers, reaching over 1500 cities and towns in India. It has also crossed borders to around 35 countries.

The company has widespread retail as well as e-commerce channels in one of the most expansive service networks in India. Its broad network extends to a number of robust franchise business partners. The consumer channels include 21,000+ dealers located in 10,000 cities and towns in India. Moreover, almost 80% of its customers can access a service center within a 5-km radius. 8,000+ company-trained technicians operate from these service centers across the country, making over 40,000 kitchen visits every day.

Most notably, Eureka Forbes is a leader and pioneer when it comes to direct sales with a sales force that is one of the largest in Asia. Its trendsetting direct selling reputation encompasses over 10,000+ professionals operating from 150+ Customer Response Centers in over 120 cities and towns across India.

The iconic Aquabrand brand is the jewel in the company’s crown. It is the flagship water purifier brand of Eureka Forbes and is considered ‘the’ name for healthy and safe drinking water in India. The award-winning product range also consists of customized solutions for the rural markets along with industrial-level solutions.

Forbes Vacuum Cleaners, formerly named Euroclean, is also an award-winning name under the Eureka Forbes legacy. According to recent GFK market share data for 2020–21, it is the #1 vacuum cleaner brand in the market.

Other brands of this renowned company include Dr. Aeroguard, Aeroguard, Forbes Health Conditioners, Air Purifiers, and EuroVigil security solutions. All of these names have now come together under the name FORBES as one notable solution provider. Additionally, Forbes Pro Solutions offers packaged and customized water treatment solutions for industrial processes.

Eureka Forbes is also recognized as one of India’s Top 5 Best Employers, a case study at Harvard and Richard Ivy Business Schools, a classic direct sales reference in marketing guru Philip Kotler’s textbook ‘Marketing Management, a feature in Forbes Magazine Asia edition.

It has won awards for fulfilling its corporate social responsibility as an eager participant in social welfare, especially in times of need. Eureka Forbes has provided safe drinking water in cases of natural calamities, during the pandemic, and at kiosks in public spaces. It has also set up EuroAble which is the country’s first state-of-the-art call center that is entirely manned and operated by people with special needs.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 16, 2022.

What is an inverter duty transformer?

 

With electricity being a basic necessity in today’s society, there is constant growth in the sector with new and improved technologies being developed every other day. There is also an ongoing boom in renewable energy solutions with a major focus on solar power. In this space, you may have heard of an ‘inverter duty transformer’. This solution is a major component in the world of power generation, playing a key role in delivering higher efficiency of the power plants. Inverter duty transformers are responsible for converting direct current (DC) electrical energy into alternating current (AC) electrical energy. This, in turn, takes the low output of power and steps it up to get the desired voltage for electrical consumption.

These transformers work hand in hand with inverters to transfer electrical energy without changing the frequency. First, the inverter converts DC energy to AC energy at a low voltage after which the transformer increases the voltage to the value that is required by the electrical devices that are being used. Inverter duty transformers are, therefore, designed to drive the optimum results for better performance in all kinds of conditions.

They are specifically designed by energy storage solution providers for small power conversions, most commonly in solar power and wind power projects. The design includes multiple windings located on the primary side of the transformer which allows it to connect multiple inverters to the grid. This offers access to more energy and higher efficiency. It, in turn, requires a lesser amount of transformers to go with a larger number of inverters. It is a specialized system that is tailored to the requirement of that particular power plant. This means that each inverter duty transformer system is unique, offering specific results in terms of voltage, environmental efficiency, network landscape, and other surrounding factors.

Inverter duty transformers play a key role in creating a power plant that is efficient across different factors including performance, cost, maintenance, and load losses. It is the most important component of reducing energy costs and overcoming issues of low voltage of energy losses in the electricity conversion process.

There are plenty of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) as well as Operations and Management (O&M) companies that have significant expertise in developing and managing power plants across the globe. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy is one such provider of turnkey EPC solutions that covers all areas of the project to offer a complete and efficiently designed electricity generation system.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 13, 2022.

What is an epc company?

All you need to know about EPC Companies

You may have heard about EPC Companies but do you really know what they are and how they can help you? EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction. An EPC company focuses on providing the three aspects of a project in order to deliver value. This can be done through several different methods such as a turnkey contract or by using a modular approach.

The EPC company will identify what needs to be done in order to build the project and then find suppliers who are able to provide those services at an agreed-upon cost.

The EPC company will also work with engineers and other professionals who are needed to complete the project. They will oversee these professionals’ work and make sure that they are working efficiently and effectively. The EPC company will also manage purchasing costs by negotiating with suppliers on behalf of the client.

What is an EPC contract?

An EPC contract is a contract between a company and another company, where the first company agrees to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the second company. The first company is known as an EPC contractor.

This type of contract can be useful when there is a need for a project that requires many different types of expertise. For example, if you need to build a new house, you might need an architect, builders, plumbers, and electricians all working together. If you had to hire each of these professionals separately it would be very expensive and time-consuming. In this situation, it would make sense to hire an EPC company that could bring together all of these different professionals under one roof so that they can work together as efficiently as possible.

EPC Contractors can also provide other services such as project management or risk management which saves time and money for companies who don’t have the resources in-house or don’t want to take on these responsibilities themselves.

Some prominent EPC Companies include Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Ambuja Cements Ltd, and UltraTech Cement Ltd.

Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on May 13, 2022.