2005 Notice of Funds Availability

(7) Solar, large. The technical requirements specified in paragraphs (d)(7)(i) through (x) apply to large solar electric projects and large solar thermal projects. Large solar electric systems are those for which the rated power of the system is larger than 10kW. The major components of a large solar electric system are the solar panels, the support structure, the foundation, the power conditioning equipment, the interconnection equipment, surface or submersible water pumps and energy storage equipment and supporting documentation including operations and maintenance manuals. Large solar electric systems are either stand-alone (off grid) or interconnected to the grid (on grid.) Large solar thermal systems are those for which the rated storage volume of the system is greater than 240 gallons. The major components of a large solar thermal system are the solar collector(s), the support structure, the foundation, the circulation pump(s) and piping, heat exchanger (if required), energy storage equipment and supporting documentation including operations and maintenance manuals.

(i) Qualifications of project team. The large solar project team should consist of an equipment supplier of major components, a project manager, general contractor, a system engineer, a system installer, and system maintainer. One individual or entity may serve more than one role. The Applicant must provide authoritative evidence that project team service providers have the necessary professional credentials or relevant experience to perform the required services. The Applicant must also provide authoritative evidence that vendors of proprietary components can provide necessary equipment and spare parts for the system to operate over its design life. The Applicant must:

(A) Discuss the proposed project delivery method. Such methods include a design, bid, build where a separate engineering firm may design the project and prepare a request for bids and the successful bidder constructs the project at the Applicant’s risk, and a design build method, often referred to as turn key, where the Applicant establishes the specifications for the project and secures the services of a developer who will design and build the project at the developer’s risk;

(B) Discuss the qualifications of the suppliers of major components being considered;

(C) Discuss the project manager, general contractor, system engineer, and system installer qualifications for engineering, designing, and installing large solar systems including any relevant certifications by recognized organizations or bodies. Provide a list of the same or similar systems designed or installed by the design, engineering, and installation team and currently operating and with references if available; and

(D) Describe the system operator’s qualifications and experience for servicing, operating, and maintaining the system for the proposed application. Provide a list of the same or similar systems designed or installed by the design, engineering, and installation team and currently operating and with references if available.

(ii) Agreements and permits. The Applicant must identify all necessary agreements and permits required for the project and the status and schedule for securing those agreements and permits, including the items specified in paragraphs (d)(7)(ii)(A) through (D).

(A) Large solar systems must be installed in accordance with local, State, and national building and electrical codes and regulations. Identify zoning, building and electrical code issues, and required permits and the schedule for meeting those requirements and securing those permits.

(B) Identify available component warranties for the specific project location and size.

(C) Large solar electric systems interconnected to the electric power system will need arrangements to interconnect with the utility. Identify utility system interconnection requirements, power purchase arrangements, or licenses where required and the schedule for meeting those requirements and obtaining those agreements. This is required even if the system is installed on the customer side of the utility meter. For systems planning to utilize a local net metering program, describe the applicable local net metering program.

(D) Describe all potential environmental impacts resulting from siting issues, construction and operation of the proposed project. Identify other site or design alternatives that were considered in your planning process. Identify all environmental compliance issues such as required permits (i.e. wetland fill, endangered species, water quality, hazard materials handling etc.)

(iii) Resource assessment. The Applicant must provide adequate and appropriate evidence of the availability of the renewable resource required for the system to operate as designed. Describe the local solar resource where the solar system is to be installed. Acceptable sources of solar resource data include state solar maps and nearby weather station data. Incorporate information from state solar resource maps when possible. Indicate the source of the solar data and assumptions made when applying nearby solar data to the site.

(iv) Design and engineering. The Applicant must provide authoritative evidence that the system will be designed and engineered so as to meet its intended purpose and need, will ensure public safety, mitigate any adverse environmental impacts, and will comply with applicable laws, regulations, agreements, permits, codes, and standards.

(A) For large solar electric systems, the engineering must be comprehensive, including solar collector design and selection, support structure design and selection, power conditioning design and selection, surface or submersible water pumps and energy storage requirements as applicable, and selection of cabling, disconnects and interconnection equipment. A complete set of engineering drawings, stamped by a professional engineer must be provided.

(B) For large solar thermal systems, the engineering must be comprehensive, including solar collector design and selection, support structure design and selection, pump and piping design and selection, and energy storage design and selection. Provide a complete set of engineering drawings, stamped by a professional engineer.

(C) For either type of system, provide a concise but complete description of the large solar system including location of the project and proposed equipment and system specifications. Identify possible vendors and models of major system components. Provide the expected system energy production based on available solar resource data on a monthly (when possible) and annual basis and how the energy produced by the system will be used.

(D) For either type of system, provide a description of the project site and address issues such as, solar access, orientation, proximity to the load or the electrical grid, environmental concerns such as land use, water quality, wildlife, habitat fragmentation, aesthetics, unique safety concerns, construction, and installation issues and whether special circumstances exist.

(E) Sites must be controlled by the agricultural producer or small business for the proposed project life or for the financing term of any associated federal loans or loan guarantees.

(v) Project development schedule. The Applicant must identify each significant task, its beginning and end, and its relationship to the time needed to initiate and carry the project through startup and shakedown. Provide a detailed description of the project timeline including system and site design, permits and agreements, equipment procurement, and system installation from excavation through startup and shakedown.

(vi) Financial feasibility. The Applicant must provide a study that describes costs and revenues of the proposed project to demonstrate the financial performance of the project. Provide a detailed analysis and description of project costs including design and engineering, permitting, equipment, site preparation, system installation, system startup and shakedown, warranties, insurance, financing, professional services, and operations and maintenance costs. Provide a detailed description of applicable investment, productivity, tax, loan, and grant incentives. Provide a detailed description of historic or expected energy use and expected energy offsets or sales on a monthly and annual basis.

(vii) Equipment procurement. The Applicant must demonstrate that equipment required by the system is available and can be procured and delivered within the proposed project development schedule. Large solar systems may be constructed of components manufactured in more than one location. Provide a description of any unique equipment procurement issues such as scheduling and timing of component manufacture and delivery, ordering, warranties, shipping, receiving, and on-site storage or inventory. Provide a detailed description of equipment certification. Procurement must be made in accordance with the requirements of 7 CFR part 3015.

(viii) Equipment installation. The Applicant must fully describe the management of and plan for site development and system installation, provide details regarding the scheduling of major installation equipment, including cranes and other devices, needed for project construction, and provide a description of the startup and shakedown specification and process and the conditions required for startup and shakedown for each equipment item individually and for the system as a whole.

(ix) Operations and maintenance. The Applicant must identify the operations and maintenance requirements of the system necessary for the system to operate as designed over the design life. The Applicant must:

(A) Ensure that systems must have at least a 5-year warranty for equipment. Provide information regarding system warranty and availability of spare parts;

(B) Describe the routine operations and maintenance requirements of the proposed system, including maintenance schedules for the mechanical and electrical and software systems;

(C) For owner maintained portions of the system, describe any unique knowledge, skills, or abilities needed for service operations or maintenance; and

(D) Provide information regarding expected system design life and timing of major component replacement or rebuilds. Include in the discussion, costs and labor associated with operations and maintenance of system and plans for insourcing or outsourcing.

(x) Decommissioning. When uninstalling or removing the project, describe the decommissioning process. Describe any issues, any environmental compliance requirements, such as proper disposal or recycling procedures to reduce potential hazardous chemical contamination and costs for removal and disposal of the system.