- Industry
- Commercial / Industrial
- Location
- Surrey, BC, Canada
- Solution
- Grid-tied rooftop solar PV system
- System capacity
- Approximately 250 kW DC
- Project scope
- Site inspection, engineering design, equipment selection, installation, commissioning and handover
Electricity was one of the largest fixed costs in this Surrey facility's operating budget, and it kept climbing every year with no way to plan around it. The owner wanted the roof, already sitting empty above the plant, to start paying for itself.
The building had to keep running, the roof warranty had to stay intact, and the existing main service had to absorb the new generation without being torn out.
We measured the roof against the load rather than the other way round. Twelve months of consumption data set the target, and the usable roof area, orientation and shading from neighbouring structures set the ceiling. The answer was 250 kW DC of high efficiency monocrystalline modules on a string inverter architecture.
The existing main service and utility interconnection decided the electrical design. String configuration, DC cable sizing, combiner protection, AC distribution and surge protection were all engineered around what the building already had, so nothing had to be torn out to make solar fit.
Roof integrity governed every mounting decision. Attachment points, cable routing and equipment placement were laid out to keep the roof membrane and its warranty intact, with clear service access left around inverters and array rows.
Project overview
Redyna Technologies Ltd. completed a comprehensive solar PV project for a commercial facility in Surrey, British Columbia.
The project objective was to reduce the facility's dependence on grid electricity and lower long-term operating costs through the installation of a high-efficiency rooftop solar photovoltaic system.
Redyna's scope covered the project lifecycle from initial site inspection and feasibility assessment through system design, installation, testing, commissioning and client handover.
Initial site assessment
The engineering team conducted a detailed site inspection covering:
- Available rooftop area
- Roof condition and structural considerations
- Roof orientation and solar exposure
- Potential shading from surrounding structures
- Existing electrical infrastructure
- Main electrical service
- Utility interconnection requirements
- Equipment access and installation logistics
- Cable routing requirements
- Inverter and electrical equipment locations
Preliminary solar assessment
A preliminary solar assessment was then developed to determine the optimum system size and equipment configuration for the site.
Solar system design
Redyna developed the PV system layout based on:
- Available roof area
- Solar irradiation
- Roof orientation
- Shading conditions
- Electrical demand
- Equipment efficiency
- Future maintenance requirements
System configuration
The system incorporated high-efficiency monocrystalline PV modules, string inverters, rooftop mounting structures, DC/AC protection, monitoring equipment and the associated electrical infrastructure.
Electrical engineering
The electrical design included:
- PV string configuration
- DC cable sizing
- Combiner and protection requirements
- Inverter sizing
- AC distribution
- Disconnects
- Grounding and bonding
- Surge protection
- Monitoring and communications
- Interconnection with the building electrical system
Installation
The installation team coordinated:
- Material delivery
- Rooftop mounting-system installation
- Solar module installation
- DC wiring
- Inverter installation
- AC electrical connections
- Grounding and bonding
- Equipment labeling
- Monitoring-system installation
Protecting the roof and the operation
Special attention was given to maintaining roof integrity and minimizing disruption to the client's commercial operations throughout the build.
Testing and commissioning
Before energization, the system underwent inspection and testing, including:
- Visual inspection
- Module and string verification
- DC polarity testing
- Insulation resistance testing
- Grounding verification
- Inverter configuration
- AC electrical testing
- Monitoring-system verification
- System performance checks
Handover
Following successful commissioning, the system was handed over to the client with operating and maintenance information.
Project outcome
The completed system provided the commercial facility with a significant onsite renewable-energy generation capability.
Key benefits included:
- Reduced grid electricity consumption
- Increased use of renewable energy
- Reduced long-term energy operating costs
- Online system monitoring
- Improved energy sustainability
- Scalable solar infrastructure
Redyna's value — one engineering and implementation pathway
- Site assessment
- Solar design
- Electrical design
- Installation
- Testing
- Commissioning
- Client handover
250 kW DC
System size
Grid tied rooftop PV
Type
Assessment to handover
Scope