Solar PV systems are usually installed to reduce grid consumption, electricity costs, and/or emissions. A lot of time, effort and money went into designing and installing PV arrays that maximize your goals. It is equally important to manage the solar PV arrays during operation to ensure that those outcomes are met.
Utility rate changes and site consumption changes affect financial returns; the best option last year may no longer be the best option. Solar PV systems underperform due to outages, soiling, or equipment failure. Not all contractors and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) providers monitor the guarantees and warranties that you paid for. Many solar PV off-takers or owners lack the expertise or the time to manage the complex technical and financial implications of a solar PV array or a portfolio of solar arrays.
In addition to NV5’s wholistic Solar, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Microgrid client representation services from feasibility through commissioning, our Asset Management team provides public agencies and private companies with ongoing technical and financial management of solar PV assets. Whether it is for annual facility budgeting or meeting your carbon reduction road map, our asset management team is here to help. With us representing you it will allow your internal resources to focus on other priorities, knowing that your solar is being managed properly.
Solar, BESS and Microgrid Asset Management
Asset Management identifies long term performance issues, confirms Solar and BESS Provider performance to contract, quantifies financial savings, and optimizes utility tariffs.
- Monthly Performance Monitoring Quarterly Performance Reporting
- Annual Savings and Performance Analysis
- Tariff Optimization
- Performance Guarantee Validation
- Net Metering Aggregation (NEMA) account balancing
Solar Site Inspection and Performance Assessment
Solar arrays need routine maintenance in order to safely operate at peak performance. As time passes, arrays can develop a variety of maintenance issues that can lead to a decrease in performance or safety concerns. NV5 conducts on-site visual inspections of equipment to identify corrective maintenance issues. We combine the results of the inspection with technical and financial performance assessments to identify maintenance needs, performance trends, and opportunities for utility savings.
- Solar Array Inspections and Maintenance Recommendations
- Technical Performance Analysis
- Tariff Optimization
- Performance Guarantee True-Up
PPA Buyout Analysis
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) enables a user of electricity to procure solar-generated electricity while avoiding the initial capital cost. These agreements typically have early buy-out provisions before the end of term that may provide more savings than continuing the PPA. If you’re a customer considering a solar PPA buyout, NV5 can provide the independent expertise to help manage risk and maximize the lifetime savings of your project.
- Financial Analysis of PPA buyout options
- Pre-buyout Array Inspections
- Negotiation of Buyout Price
- O&M RFP
REC & LCFS Management
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits play an important role in the financial and carbon goals of renewable projects. NV5 will work with you to create a strategic REC plan to address those goals. Our team has experience managing projects in the major REC and LCFS trading platforms.
- Strategic REC and LCFS Plans
- Generating Unit Registration and Management with WREGIS, NEPOOL, PJM-GATS, M-RETS
- Fuel Supply Equipment (FSE) Registration and Reporting with LRT-CBTS
ESG Reporting
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and disclosures are becoming increasingly important. NV5 can help you quantify your environmental disclosures and recommend changes to better align your environmental and energy impact with your goals.
Building Analytics
Building Analytics (often called Continuous or Monitoring-Based Commissioning) is a data-driven energy efficiency solution that combines ongoing building system monitoring with standard retro-commissioning (RCx) practices to provide substantial and persistent energy savings.
The solution collects real-time data from smart sensors, IoT devices, and building systems. Big data is converted, mapped, tagged, assured, and stored in a common database where cross-disciplinary analytics are applied.
NV5’s building analytics tool (Enalytics) has been developed from the ground up to keep your building operating at optimal performance. Our tool connects to your building systems and through our custom developed rules, it optimizes building performance to save between 10-30% of current energy consumption. Our team of engineers utilize the software collaboratively with your existing personnel to improve the operations of your facility.
Our average energy savings is 15.1% with a 3.2 month payback with secondary benefits that include improved occupant comfort, proactive facilities operators, improved building resiliency, reduced carbon emissions, and extended mechanical equipment life by identifying and implementing low-cost operational improvements.
