As you know, one of my approaches has always been and will always be to support the change of renewables in Spain, despite the bad news that is in the social networks, by the fall in the past.
I’m going to take the liberty of writing this article in English, because I need to spread the word that there is a lot of human and investment potential in Spain.
In this case, I will talk about the University Carlos III of Madrid from the division of Photovoltaic Unit on March 21, 2018. It was held at the Puerta de Toledo Campus (Salón de Grados).
A workshop on New Technical Solutions and Strategies for Large Photovoltaic Power Plants.
First of all, I have to thank Professor Vicente Salas for opening the channel for Spanish and non-Spanish companies to provide their solutions and new negotiation trends.
Topics that were discussed:
- Strategies and Tools to make the LCOE reduction.
- Key Aspects of Regulation for Large Photovoltaic Power Plants. EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction).
- Photovoltaic modules.
- Solar Mounting Structure.
- Photovoltaic Inverters.
- Data monitoring and control systems.
In the event the different solutions, investment tools and new technological solutions were exhibited.
The focus was to reduce costs without affecting the quality of the products and/or service applied, with the paradise that was generated in 2008, installations were carried out throughout the Spanish territory and a large number of installations, already at the close of the dates, for the delivery dates, were moved in masse to complete the installations.
This had a collateral effect on the long-term results of the facilities, which affected the final customers and investors, seeing that these facilities did not reach the indicated number, month by month and without taking in consideration the changes in policy applied to renewables implemented by the government, by applying the changes in the payment of percentages and the sun tax that affected the business vision in the country.
However, with the self-consumption and the photovoltaic auctions gave a positive turn to the vision of investment in the country, which led the companies to bet on action plans in the acquisition of photovoltaic plants, creating maintenance plans and generating business throughout the process.
These companies are creating a broad portfolio of O&M maintenance, squeezing when negotiating until their investment reaches numbers, with advantages in CAPEX and especially in OPEX acquiring numbers that allow them to assemble a profitable product and facilitate their location quickly in the market by staying in control of the O&M.
When investing in a photovoltaic plant it is important to take in consideration several points, among them we have to look closely at the interests that will be applied in the contracts, in the short and long term. The warranty time of the equipment to be installed and study the details of the product warranty (always read the small letters to avoid mishaps), it is always very important to delve into the brand and the materials used.
The legend that large companies are the most reliable is not true, there are many family businesses, recognized and not so recognized brands and Freeland Professionals who can take you by the hand in the investment
An important topic discussed in the presentation was that of conducting preliminary studies by specialized and certified laboratories of the materials used in the facilities.
For example:
I am very impressed that investors, installers, engineers and managers, did not take a previous sample of the product and sent it to one of these laboratories to confirm its efficiency, imagine that we will install 1000, 2000 or 3000 solar panels in an installation, because it is totally logical that we request a solar panel to do a previous efficiency study and not after having installed the solar panels and running the installation for years. The economic impacts will then be more aggressive and involve greater investment risk, so it is better to do things right from the start.
Already in one article before, I talked about monitoring, and I have come to the conclusion that there should be no installation, even if it is very small, without having a thermometer that lets you know how your investment is going. The monitoring is in charge of letting you know if your installation is an asset or a liability. I believe that the objective of investing is to have control of how the production of the investment goes, remember if you have the data you have the control.
If you need any support please contact at any time.
Juan Espinosa 