Both roof-mounted and ground-mounted sub-construction sets should be made of high quality metals, using a combination of aluminum and galvanized steel. For example, ideally, only aluminum should be used in a roof-mounted solar PV system’s sub-construction set to avoid compromising the structural integrity of the roof. For ground-mounted installations, poles are usually made of galvanized steel to ensure adequate strength and durability, as they must be fixed on the ground by pressure, while the upper part of the construction set (where the solar panels are fixed) is made of aluminum. Both of these sub-construction sets, if certified and properly constructed and installed, can guarantee at least 20 years without corrosion in various climate conditions.
IPPs using ground-mounted PV systems should be installed in locations where the land category has as low a class as possible, because land conversion is only possible at class 3 and above (land classification system is 1-7, with 1 the highest quality of land and 7 the lowest quality). This process must convert agricultural land into construction land temporarily (during the period when the solar PV installation is installed). When the solar PV installation is removed, the land must then be rehabilitated and revegetated.
The planned building area for the PV plant should be located in an area designated for such activity in a municipal development plan (MDP) or should at a minimum receive municipal consent and a confirmation that developing the project does not contradict a future MDP.
Additionally, the plant should not be built in a sensitive environmental and biodiversity area. Applicants must certify this by Environmental Consent, which is provided by the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure.
Last but not least, to produce high energy yield with low land degradation and minimal socioeconomic impact, the PV plant should be sited as close as possible to medium or high voltage substations (based on the planned PV plant capacity).
