How A Solar Project Is Managed

It’s 2020 and installing solar PV is a no brainer. People consider going solar as a smart energy decision because it eliminates high utility rates. Nevertheless, the process to go solar can become challenging for the project teams. Getting to know how a solar project is managed will help resolve potential issues with the installation.

Getting to Know The Project Managers

Hiring a solar installer with an efficient and professional project management team is very important. Project managers oversee every solar installation. It’s their job to accurately and efficiently move the project pipeline from installation to activation. The installation phase begins once the engineering team has finalized a system design.

Solar Process

Before going solar, you’re going to want to be sure to trust the project management team.  Talk to your solar consultant and ask him/her about the project managers and how they work. The goal of the team is to facilitate. Consistent oversight, control, direction, and high attention to details are key qualities that matter. Ongoing communication with the solar customer will provide transparency with the project status. This whole process can take between 4-6 weeks.

Behind The Scenes of a Solar Project

The three primary aspects for solar project management are communication, coordination, and scheduling. The project management team collaborates with the engineers to submit construction plans to the city for permits. The plans roughly 20 pages include required documents such as datasheets, diagrams, and electrical schematics that outline the solar installation. Safety code by the Fire Department is also considered. It requires the solar array to have 3 feet clearance from the roof ridge and 1.5 feet clearance on the edges.

As long as the solar company knows what they’re doing, going solar is a simple and smooth process.   Certain conditions can delay the install or even disqualify it from receiving a valid permit. Some installers just don’t ask about certain conditions that can introduce a potential issue.  Issues that come up can delay the installation. Some examples:

• Unpermitted structure or addition
• Homeowners Association approvals/oversight
• Electrical and roofing conditions
• Attic space
• Encumbrances
• Title and Trusts

A home with an unpermitted garage or addition not built to code, won’t quality for solar.  City/county inspectors will fail the job if the home doesn’t meet building code.

Managing The Installation

Once the city/county has permits ready, the project management team takes over. They’re first job is to coordinate with suppliers or their warehouse and make inventory for all the solar equipment and components. Next they’ll assign a foreman to join the installation team on site.  They’ll review dates on the calendar that are open for the install. Selecting the right date will depend on the crew’s availability.

When the field crew is on site installing the system, the project manager will request constant updates. Field crews are accountable to ensure the job is done right and one time. It also helps resolve any issues discovered during installation. Once the crew completes the job, the project manager will contact the city/county to schedule an inspection. The inspector must verify the solar installation meets building code. City inspectors are tough and meticulous. They will determine whether the job gets a pass or a fail.  Corrections will be requested by the inspector if the job fails the inspection. The installation can’t move to the phase until the inspection is passed.

The utility has control to activate the solar system to produce power. Utilities have their own processes for system activation which may take some time.  Once they approve and grant the permission to operate, the solar installation is officially complete.

Getting to know how a solar project is managed will help the homeowner understand what to expect. Project managers oversee the project’s completion.  They’re in charge of communicating with internal teams including the engineers and field crews while also coordinating schedules with cities and utilities. A competent project management team controls the process and plans accordingly based on the scope of the project. They keep the project organized and under budget, taking care of issues at the design phase prior to install. They are responsible for the customer experience. When a homeowner has trust in the process, going solar becomes a breeze. Otherwise, the homeowner will end up managing the project themselves, which is not what they pay for when going solar.