Plant Design

We are committed to helping you plan & design an efficient solar power plant, using all of our expertise and experience.

We are committed to helping you plan & design an efficient PV plant using all of our expertise and experience.

Good Design results in an efficient plant with a long lifespan

The plant design is an integral part of a building application for both commercial and company solar power plants. We take local conditions and requirements into account when designing our solar power plants, so we can give you the best chance of approval for your building permit.

Sound system planning ensures maximum yield, high performance and efficient and practical operation. It also anticipates future challenges and takes potential problems into account, for example, those arising from the site. This saves you effort, time and costs in the long run.

When is the best time to seek help with your plant design?

A sufficiently large area with limited feed-in capacity must be designed differently to a limited area with sufficient grid capacity, which is why our engineers aim to create the optimum design and the most sustainable execution plan for each individual site. We take the relevant parameters into account, such as row spacing, tilt and DC-AC ratio, in order to determine the best possible plant design for your land.

An accurate and realistic proposal for a commercial solar power plant design is an important part of an energy yield and solar performance analysis, which is why we have developed our own system design, which is optimized for most areas in Europe, in terms of mechanical occupancy and electrical wiring. We develop our designs using PVcase software, which allows us to make a 3D model, taking the exact topography of the surface into account.

The plant design is an integral part of a building application, for both commercial and company solar power plants. We take local conditions and requirements into account when designing our solar power plants, so we can give you the best chance of approval for your building permit.

As part of our role as owner’s engineer, we regularly prepare well-founded reviews of external plant designs. This provides the operator with an independent view of the design quality, compliance with normative requirements and consideration of operationally relevant aspects of their current solar systems design project.

How do we approach a plant design project?

greentech system design for optimum layout planning

greentech has developed its own system design, which is optimized for most European sites in terms of mechanical layout and electrical wiring. Nevertheless, each project must be assessed individually, and local conditions and approval planning requirements must be taken into account. A sufficiently large site with limited feed-in power must be planned differently than a limited site with sufficient grid capacity. To this end, various scenarios are planned and analyzed in terms of their specific and absolute yields. The relevant parameters, such as row spacing, tilt and DC-AC ratio, are varied in different scenarios, in order to determine the best possible plant design.

We create our plans using PVcase software, which enables us to view the module layout and further planning as a 3D model. Via drone survey or the use of information provided by other sources, we can record the exact topography of a site that must be taken into account in order to define row spacing and tilt, both variably and quickly. These results can either be used for an EPC tender, to obtain realistic and, above all, comparable offers, or they can form the basis for subsequent detailed execution planning.

Detailed execution planning comprises all relevant aspects for the construction phase

In this planning stage, all relevant aspects for the construction phase are designed and documented. This includes, among other things, post plans, cable plans, trench structure, earthing plans, string plans, AC and medium voltage plans and plant communication and control plans. All the individual sections must fit together smoothly and seamlessly, and the interfaces must be well-thought-out.

Thanks to our large O&M portfolio, we know precisely which mechanical and electrical designs have proven themselves consistently in day-to-day operation, and which solutions entail increased maintenance. For this reason, it is also important to always keep an eye on life cycle costs, i.e. the combination of acquisition and operational costs.

Execution planning forms the basis for plant construction. Changes that occur during construction must be taken into account in the as-built documentation that is prepared for the subsequent operating phase.

Our planning engineers aim to create the optimum design with the most sustainable execution planning for each site. We keep up-to-date with new technologies and component developments, as well as the latest innovative design solutions, and always take the relevant norms and industry standards into account. Moreover, we contribute to their further development by participating in the relevant committees and associations.

Independent design reviews

In our role as owner's engineer, we also regularly prepare in-depth design reviews of external plant designs. The customer thus obtains an independent view of the planning quality, compliance with normative specifications and consideration of operationally relevant aspects.

greentech module layout

Example of an optimized module table setup developed by greentech
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Example of an optimized module table setup developed by greentech

In addition to the site conditions, the selected solar power plant design also plays an overriding role. The design and positioning of the modules determines how much irradiation hits the PV generator. greentech uses a standard module table design and then adapts this individually to the local conditions.

Talk to our specialists at greentech about
your solar system design needs.

Benefits

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The perfect design for your area

We provide you with the ideal individual design for your area. You benefit from our in-house system design, which is optimised for the allocation planning of areas in the European region and is continuously adapted to suit the latest technology. On this basis, we create the best possible design for your PV system, in terms of location and yield, through various iterations and simulations.

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We have our own department for engineering projects

We have established an autonomous department for our engineering projects. Here, our engineers and PV experts apply the knowledge and experience they have acquired in the solar power plant industry in specific areas such as plant design. This is where technical and practical expertise converge to deliver plant designs that ensure long-term success on every level.

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Use of appropriate 3D software for fast, reliable results

We use the 3D software, PVcase, for our plant design. It automatically determines the allocation, down to the centimeter, swiftly delivering the desired results. On this basis, further changes in the parameters that determine the design, such as row spacing or tilt of the modules, can also be implemented. Different examples of designs are then tested for their expected yield, using a simulation software, which makes it possible to compare them. This enables us to create the perfect design for your specific area.

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Best practices through memberships of associations and committees

We are always up to date with the latest innovations in solar system design and new developments in components and technical solutions. For this purpose, we are members of various associations and committees, and we attend further training courses on a regular basis.

Discover our full range of plant design services for your PV project

Scope of services for plant design

Derivation and presentation of general recommendations from the on-site meeting for layout/design

Coordination of special requirements, such as grid connection capacity, maximum construction height, GRZ, customer requirements, etc.

Import of existing topographies in CAD 3D

Creation of 3D layout according to standard greentech design or implementation of customer requirements

Optimization of site specific planning through various iterations and yield analyses

Compilation of results (e.g. for building application), incl. allocation plan and sectional drawings

Preparation of detailed implementation planning

greentech actively drives renewable energies!

greentech guarantees best practices through participation in relevant associations and committees, allowing us to bring you current and near future technology and state of the art ideas, trends, decisions and legislation related to the PV market landscape.

SolarPower Europe

Solar Power Europe is a member-led association. The aim of SolarPower Europe is to ensure that more energy is generated by solar power than any other energy source by 2030, and to lead our members in making solar energy the core of a smart, sustainable, secure and inclusive energy system, in order to reach carbon neutrality before 2050.

Association of Energy
Market Innovators

The Association of Energy Market Innovators (bne / Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft e.V.) represents the interests of grid-independent energy suppliers and energy service companies in Germany. Unlike suppliers with a connected grid, our members are free of monopoly interests: They are committed to fair competition and a diverse energy market.

The perfect plant design – profitable and practical

PV site planned with an ideal solar system design

From a green field to the final plant design

In order to determine whether a certain field or roof area is suitable for a new photovoltaic project, an initial solar system design is usually created. It takes the available site information into account and indicates a standardized layout design, for example by using defined module tables and standard electrical wiring.

Today, 3D layout planning software is usually used to create the plant layout. If the area basically shows potential for a photovoltaic system, the layout is optimized in the next step. For this purpose, various parameters of the initial planning are refined, for example, to better utilize the area or to further increase the possible yield.

A good system design is decisive for the achievement of the best possible yield later. It forms the basis for the subsequent yield assessment, and it is also a fundamental component of the application for a building permit.

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FAQ

When considering the external factors of topography and shading objects, it is important to define the ideal layout for the site-specific conditions. For example, the choice of the substructure must be in line with the requirements for the local soil and building permit. In the case of external shading objects, these must be considered for the layout to minimize shading of the modules. The interplay between components, electrical connections, row distance, angle, and Azimut must be taken into account in order to reach an optimal design both in terms of yield and operation and maintenance requirements. Our 3D design software allows us to achieve a very high level of detail and can run many iterations to come up with the best site specific design.

The timeline largely depends on the size and complexity of the project. As a rough estimate, 2-3 weeks for reviewing the documentation, coordination with the customer and beginning with the actual design would be realistic. The design itself, including internal review processes, will take about 1 week to complete.

This also depends on the individual project. In general, the provision of a well-founded design, including all relevant parameters, starts from EUR 2,500.

We use PVcase software, which is a highly automated 3D design tool. Furthermore, we have also created our own greentech plant design, which is optimized for most sites in Europe, in terms of mechanical layout and electrical wiring. We optimize our design fundamentals continuously, in order to be at the forefront of technological developments.

Of course! In our role as owner’s engineer, we regularly perform independent reviews of designs for external plants. This includes a critical review of the general layout, a check of normative compliance and best practice engineering.

As an independent service provider we are not focused on single suppliers, but we always provide a choice of tier 1 suppliers, based on the project-specific requirements.

Why work with greentech?

we develop | we build | we service | new energy

1+ GW managed &
1+ GW inspected

100+ employees, including
TÜV/VdS certified experts

Experience from 400+
projects and 10 countries

About greentech

Expertise Across All Project Phases

greentech is an integrated PV specialist. The range of services includes project developmentsystem design, construction, operation and management of PV power plants in Europe. In the area of operational management, we offer a full-service operational management concept for PV plants of all sizes with an interdisciplinary team of experienced experts, as well as services for planning, quality assurance and yield maximisation. With a comprehensive range of services and a current portfolio of more than 900 MWp in O&M, we are one of the largest independent service providers worldwide.

Your greentech specialists for professional plant planning

Steffen-Heberlein
Steffen Heberlein

Senior Project Manager Sales & Business Development

Steffen Heberlein is responsible for the expansion of the business units Technical Operations Management, Commercial Operations Management and Technical Advisory. His activities for greentech’s customers range from price indications to contract negotiations and project implementation support. As a key account manager, he also looks after more than 250MWp for various customers in greentech’s existing portfolio.
Johannes-Liebich
Johannes Liebich

Head of Engineering & Technical Advisory

Johannes Liebich is head of the “Engineering & Technical Advisory” team at greentech. He is responsible for the planning and implementation of projects and for the development of new services in technical plant consulting. Johannes Liebich studied Environmental Engineering with a focus on photovoltaics and has been working in the solar industry since 2011. As an experienced Technical Advisor, his main focus is on plant construction and operation.

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