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7May2014
KEVIN JOYCE
PV OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE –
AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER’S
PERSPECTIVE
AGENDA
Who is Black & Veatch?
What does an investor care about?
What does an IE look at in an O&M plan?
2
• 9,000 person international engineering firm
based in Overland Park, KS, founded in 1915.
• Majority of work in energy sector.
• Ranked Number One in Power by Engineering
News-Record for last three years.
• Significant expertise in solar power:
• Performance testing, technical due diligence,
contract review, construction monitoring, detailed
design, policy, integrated resource planning.
• Independent Engineer for investors financing over
2000 MW of utility scale PV projects.
• Independent Engineer for investors financing several
giant distributed rooftop portfolios, 1000+ MW --
170,000+ systems!
• Technical adviser to multiple utilities
purchasing utility scale PV plants and energy
from PV plants.
BLACK & VEATCH
3
First bond issuance back by
revenue from the 550 MW Topaz
Plant: A Black & Veatch IE
engagement
Is the investor financially protected from operating
risks by the operations and maintenance (O&M) plan
and contingencies?
1. Will the plant operate as expected (revenue)?
2. Are the budgeted operating costs reasonable?
3. Are any known operating risks monetized in the
financial model?
ANSWER THE BIG QUESTIONS
4
• O&M service fee – paid to contractor
per the O&M agreement
• Typically budgeted at $10-$20 per kWdc
(varies widely with scope, technology,
labor rates, etc.)
• Additional owners costs
• Parts of the O&M plan not covered by the
service fee.
• Reserve funds including contingencies
• Non-O&M expenses like land lease,
insurance, etc.
O&M BUDGET
5
Not all tasks are in the O&M agreement but they
must all be in the O&M plan and budget.
• Emergency response plan
• Safety and health plan
• Security
• Warranty management
• Parts management
• Telecom and electricity
• Staffing & training
• Operations & compliance
• Monitoring & reporting
• Regular inspections
• Regular component testing
• Preventative maintenance
• Env. management (mowing)
• Washing
• Permit compliance & maint
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SCOPE
6
Are all the unique requirements of the project
met by the O&M plan?
• Energy scheduling and forecasting
• Day ahead weather adjusted forecasts
• Notification of failures or outages
• Plant performance requirements
• Reactive power / power factor
• Ramp rate and LVRT
• Permitting and environmental
compliance
CONSISTENCY AMONG
COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS
7
• Performance guarantees (EPC)
• Should be based on the production
assumption used in the financial model
• Use best practices for PV performance
testing (exclusions, test calculation, etc.)
• Availability guarantees
• Definition and calculation of availability
• Liquidated damages
• Will the project be covered financially in the
case of a shortfall?
• Lost revenue and penalties
• LD caps are commonly tied to contract value.
GUARANTEES AND LIQUIDATED
DAMAGES
8
Can the project keep a good price? Get rid of a
bad contractor?
• Term of the O&M agreement compared
to project life
• Renewal or extension options?
• Termination of the agreement
• Can the project terminate the contract:
• at will?
• for cause?
• in default?
TERM AND TERMINATION
9
• For expected expenses
• Inverter overhaul/ replacement
• Plant decommissioning (when required)
• As contingency for known risks
• Unscheduled maintenance
• Project specific risks
• Short term O&M agreement
• Frost heave
• Inverter or module concerns
RESERVE FUNDS
10
• O&M plan scope and budget
• Is the plan adequate to maintain revenue
at a reasonable cost?
• Consistency in project agreements
• Are the unique requirements of the
project met?
• Guarantees and LD’s
• Is the project protected against O&M
failures?
• Reserve funds
• Has the project budgeted for known
expenses and risks?
IN SUMMARY – AN IE REVIEW
CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING
11
www.bv.com
© Black & Veatch Holding Company 2012. All Rights Reserved. The Black & Veatch name and logo are registered trademarks of Black & Veatch Holding Company.
• Spare parts inventory
• Originally supplied by constructor
• Storage responsibility / strategy varies
• Agreement with equipment (inverter)
manufacturer service
• Inadequate spares of critical equipment
can increase risk of unplanned
downtime.
• Transformers – MV and HV
• Inverter IGBTs
SPARE PARTS INVENTORY
13

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2014 PV Reliability O&M Workshop: PV Operations & Maintenance - An Independent Engineer's Perspective, May 7, 2014

  • 1. 7May2014 KEVIN JOYCE PV OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE – AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER’S PERSPECTIVE
  • 2. AGENDA Who is Black & Veatch? What does an investor care about? What does an IE look at in an O&M plan? 2
  • 3. • 9,000 person international engineering firm based in Overland Park, KS, founded in 1915. • Majority of work in energy sector. • Ranked Number One in Power by Engineering News-Record for last three years. • Significant expertise in solar power: • Performance testing, technical due diligence, contract review, construction monitoring, detailed design, policy, integrated resource planning. • Independent Engineer for investors financing over 2000 MW of utility scale PV projects. • Independent Engineer for investors financing several giant distributed rooftop portfolios, 1000+ MW -- 170,000+ systems! • Technical adviser to multiple utilities purchasing utility scale PV plants and energy from PV plants. BLACK & VEATCH 3 First bond issuance back by revenue from the 550 MW Topaz Plant: A Black & Veatch IE engagement
  • 4. Is the investor financially protected from operating risks by the operations and maintenance (O&M) plan and contingencies? 1. Will the plant operate as expected (revenue)? 2. Are the budgeted operating costs reasonable? 3. Are any known operating risks monetized in the financial model? ANSWER THE BIG QUESTIONS 4
  • 5. • O&M service fee – paid to contractor per the O&M agreement • Typically budgeted at $10-$20 per kWdc (varies widely with scope, technology, labor rates, etc.) • Additional owners costs • Parts of the O&M plan not covered by the service fee. • Reserve funds including contingencies • Non-O&M expenses like land lease, insurance, etc. O&M BUDGET 5
  • 6. Not all tasks are in the O&M agreement but they must all be in the O&M plan and budget. • Emergency response plan • Safety and health plan • Security • Warranty management • Parts management • Telecom and electricity • Staffing & training • Operations & compliance • Monitoring & reporting • Regular inspections • Regular component testing • Preventative maintenance • Env. management (mowing) • Washing • Permit compliance & maint OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SCOPE 6
  • 7. Are all the unique requirements of the project met by the O&M plan? • Energy scheduling and forecasting • Day ahead weather adjusted forecasts • Notification of failures or outages • Plant performance requirements • Reactive power / power factor • Ramp rate and LVRT • Permitting and environmental compliance CONSISTENCY AMONG COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS 7
  • 8. • Performance guarantees (EPC) • Should be based on the production assumption used in the financial model • Use best practices for PV performance testing (exclusions, test calculation, etc.) • Availability guarantees • Definition and calculation of availability • Liquidated damages • Will the project be covered financially in the case of a shortfall? • Lost revenue and penalties • LD caps are commonly tied to contract value. GUARANTEES AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES 8
  • 9. Can the project keep a good price? Get rid of a bad contractor? • Term of the O&M agreement compared to project life • Renewal or extension options? • Termination of the agreement • Can the project terminate the contract: • at will? • for cause? • in default? TERM AND TERMINATION 9
  • 10. • For expected expenses • Inverter overhaul/ replacement • Plant decommissioning (when required) • As contingency for known risks • Unscheduled maintenance • Project specific risks • Short term O&M agreement • Frost heave • Inverter or module concerns RESERVE FUNDS 10
  • 11. • O&M plan scope and budget • Is the plan adequate to maintain revenue at a reasonable cost? • Consistency in project agreements • Are the unique requirements of the project met? • Guarantees and LD’s • Is the project protected against O&M failures? • Reserve funds • Has the project budgeted for known expenses and risks? IN SUMMARY – AN IE REVIEW CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING 11
  • 12. www.bv.com © Black & Veatch Holding Company 2012. All Rights Reserved. The Black & Veatch name and logo are registered trademarks of Black & Veatch Holding Company.
  • 13. • Spare parts inventory • Originally supplied by constructor • Storage responsibility / strategy varies • Agreement with equipment (inverter) manufacturer service • Inadequate spares of critical equipment can increase risk of unplanned downtime. • Transformers – MV and HV • Inverter IGBTs SPARE PARTS INVENTORY 13