On April 28, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) formulated and released the 2023 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Solar Power Generation Systems with Special Installation Forms. It supports three types of special installation types: slope installation type, farming type, and water installation type. The 2021 version reflects the results of demonstration experiments, etc., and further improves applicability to various installation forms.
Positioning of the guidelines announced this time
(Source: NEDO)
In recent years, along with the decrease in places suitable for construction of photovoltaic power generation, the installation environment of photovoltaic power generation is expanding to slopes, farmlands, and water. Solar power generation in such a special installation environment is more difficult in terms of design and construction than general ground installation types, so safety measures for installation are required in the Electricity Business Act and local government ordinances. .
Against this background, NEDO added items for structural design, electrical design, and construction for special installation environments to the 2019 Design Guidelines for Ground-Mounted Solar Power Generation Systems, and added the items for designing solar power generation systems for special installation configurations.・Construction Guidelines 2021 Edition” was released in November 2021.
This time, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Structural Strength Evaluation Institute, Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA), Yachiyo Engineering, Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC, Kyoraku, Kitami Institute of Technology, Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, a subcontractor, The guideline was revised based on the results of surveys and demonstration experiments conducted by Osaka Public University and Hokkaido University of Science.
In the 2023 version of the slope installation type, the design method was reflected based on the analysis results of experiments and computer simulations regarding the effects of wind loads and snow loads due to increased wind speed on slopes on solar panels, mounting frames and foundations. In addition, the effects of frost heaving in cold regions were confirmed through demonstration experiments, and countermeasures were taken into consideration.
In the 2023 version of the farming type, the design method is reflected based on wind tunnel experiments, etc. regarding the influence of wind load on the mounting frame and foundation due to differences in the angle of inclination, light shielding rate, and installation form of the farming type solar power generation equipment.
In the 2023 version of the water-mounted type, we reflected the design method based on the actual system and indoor water tank experiments, etc., regarding the impact of the load caused by waves and wind on the mounting float and fixing/connecting equipment. In addition, based on the measurement results such as changes in insulation performance when the connector is submerged in water, the wiring method was reflected.
In addition, reference technical information and the results of demonstration experiments were prepared as technical materials for the guideline. NEDO will continue to conduct demonstration tests of installation on slopes, farming, and water installations, and develop technical materials to ensure the safety of solar power generation facilities.
