Project commissioning is key to solar plus storage project success

A new white paper from Edison Energy explains why selecting the right commissioning partner is one of the most important decisions to be made when developing a solar PV + battery energy storage system (BESS) project. “Commissioning is the process of ensuring that all the individual systems and components of an installation meet specific requirements for design, installation, testing, operation and maintenance,” according to the paper. The process ensures strict quality control practices are in place at each stage of the project’s life starting with the project’s concept phase.

The authors first outline the components of solar plus storage commissioning. They note that “any effective commissioning process must include considerable testing to guarantee that the system is safe, installed correctly and operating according to design specs.” This testing should be done throughout the development process to ensure that issues can be addressed before they impact the project’s lifetime and financial performance.

If commissioning steps are omitted or poorly executed for any solar project, technical issues may not be identified. However, for solar projects that add energy storage, the risks and challenges of the commissioning process are amplified because the project takes on a new level of complexity. — Edison Energy, “Choosing the Right Commissioning Partner for Solar + BESS Project Success”

Edison Energy then dives into why selecting the right commissioning partner is so critical to the success or failure of a solar plus storage project. Solar + BESS projects are inherently complex and that’s why the authors say “it is critical to choose a partner with a high level of knowledge and expertise across a broad scope of processes, technologies and regulatory landscapes.”

Real-world examples are provided to illustrate the pitfalls of poorly commissioned projects, which can include the premature failure of key system components like inverters. The authors assert that “effective commissioning and working with the right partner can help ensure that your project meets critical expectations for best performance and optimal financial return.” Download the paper for free from the Microgrid Knowledge white paper library.