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Angola, Africa

Technical support and quality control

Sub-saharan biggest solar project consisting of a total of 320 MW on 7 different sites in Angola, Africa

My work

TECHNICAL SUPPORT & QUALITY CONTROL

 

 

 

 

 

 

Role in Project:  Technical expert

Customer: MCA Group via GME Clean Power Gmbh 

Location: Angola, Africa

Supplier of power system equipment: ABB/Hitachi Energy

Consulting of the EPC on sub-saharan biggest solar project consisting of a total of 320 MW on 7 different sites in Angola, Africa. The biggest two sites being 189 resp. 96 MW.  

Representing the EPC on FAT:s for: 

  • Power Transformer 50-75 MVA, 60/33 kV resp. 220/33 kV 
  • E-House (Electronics house) 60/33 kV resp. 220/33 kV   
  • Step-up Transformers 4.6 MVA, 33/0,69 kV 
  • SKID/Power block assembly with step-up transformers, inverter and MV-switchgear 
  • MV Switchgear 33 kV 
  • 110 V DC System 
  • Relay Protection & SCADA system 

Carrying out EL-photography (Electroluminescence) of solar panels and Cold-commissioning support on-site in Angola for 3 weeks. 

Supplier of power system equipment for the solar projects was ABB/Hitachi Energy.

Inspection of installation at site Benguela, 96 MWp. Electroluminiescense photography of solar panels, here with Gustav ruining the photo. ‰ of all 800 000 solar panels were photographed to gain a statistical insight of the health of the delivered panels prior to/after installation. This special EL-photography lets you see microcracks in the solar cells and you can in that way determine some aspects of the health of the solar panel. Procedure of the EL photography. Creating a dark room on site to create favorable circumstances for the photography. During EL photography, the solar panel is connected to a DC source and a current run through the panel, turning the solar panel into a very faint lit lamp. With slow shutter speed and in dark environment, the camera can capture the faint light emitting from the solar panel. Taking a walk, checking MC4-connector compatability on field. Site Biopio, 188 MWp. Drone photography of Biopio at time for our inspection. About 1/6 of site was built during our inspection. Night EL-photography of already installed solar panels. A diesel generator on the truck powered the solar panels to make them emit light during photography. Ground works for the transformer and E-house (electronics house) being carried out. Inspection of grounding cable connections. Representing the Buyer (Portuguese contractor MCA) via video during FAT (Factory acceptance test) of Power Transformer as factory was placed in India and Corona travel restrictions did not allow real life participation. Representation the Buyer (MCA) during FAT of E-house (Electronics house) at Jaco, Swedish producer of special-purpose E-houses. Picture shows part of the inside of the E-house (here Medium Voltage MV-switchgear). The E-house also contained control and protection systems, 110 V DC system and more. Endless rows of solar panels! FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) in Jaco’s factory in Sweden of the “Skids”, consisting of 2 pcs of 2.3 MVA Central Inverters, 1 pcs of 4.6 MVA Three Winding Transformer, LV compartment and MV Compartment. Picture of one of the 50+ skids sent down from Sweden to Angola, here installed on site in Benguela, Angola (96 MWp). Site Biopio, 182 MWp FAT in Jaco’s Factory in Sweden of the “E-House”, Electronics House. Picture shows the 60 kV compartment of the line protection relays and connectors, inspection of the inside of the 36 kV Breakers, housing containing all MV-Breakers and a test of the emergency light. Three day long FAT at ABB Headquarters in Västerås of the different models of protection relays and SCADA-system to be equipped in the E-houses for the different sites. Site Benguela, 96 MWp. All sites were built with Single-Axis Tracker (SAT) mounting systems from Nextracker. Remote participation of FAT done in Turkey of Three Winding Step-up Transformers (36/0,69 kV, 4,6 MVA). 36 kV ground cables on site in Biopio. Me underneath a Baobab tree (Imbondeiro in portuguese). Baobao trees are sacred in big parts of Africa. A few Baobab trees needed to be cut down to make space of the solar parks. Before ground construction was allowed to commence, the village leader needed to give his OK on the cutting of the trees. Custom is that the village leader negotiates with the Government for compensation. In this case I heard that part of the compensation was in form of medicines (NSAID, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen) to be given to the people of the nearby villages. See exhibit A – A Homo Sapiens Power System Engineer in front of solar panels, who has attempted to spice up its appearance in order to elevate its self-confidence and social status.

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559156-4298

Contact

+46 732 63 94 94

gustav.orrevad@orrevadsolar.se

Samaritgränd 9

118 53 Stockholm, Sweden

Gustav Orrevad

About Me

Solar, Battery, EV-Charger

Power System & Energy Analysis

Renewable Energy Education

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