A successful solar project needs to cover all the bases to be profitable, completed on-time, and accurately installed for long-term performance. EPCs and developers can map out eBOS (electrical balance of system) strategies that minimize surprises, maximize production, and deliver projects on time and on budget. Terrasmart’s refined eBOS homerun wire solution is pre-fabricated and customized so you can design and install a winning project.
1. Tracking ahead of the competition
Utility-scale wire management on single-axis tracker systems can seem straightforward, but any tracker missteps can derail a project. Our wire management solution addresses project complexities upfront, preventing issues in the field and making project timelines and costs more predictable. A track record of projects without sudden delays or surprise overages can keep you ahead of the competition.
2. Flexibility at scale
Our eBOS homerun solutions offer industry-leading flexibility. They can be adapted to any site configuration, elevation, or wire management option, and are versatile enough to work with wire hangers, cable trays, or trenching projects.
This flexibility can expand your project’s capacity. While some systems limit design options, our homerun wire management system is designed to be compatible with any site design, and open doors to projects that wouldn’t otherwise be possible because of the constraints of above ground eBOS systems.
3. Architect of success
The full eBOS homerun solution architecture creates an efficient system designed to make installation faster, easier, and more reliable. All components are pre-fabricated and customized to project specs, providing “best of both worlds” benefits of factory precision and accommodation for unique project features. The system allows plug-and-play installation from the string harnesses to the combiner, with the added benefit of diagnosing any issues at the box level without shutting down the entire array.
4. Harnessing the solar future
Prefabricated wire management systems are flexible enough to adapt to utility-scale industry modernization as it happens. For example, bi-facial modules offer opportunities for increased site production through indirect sunlight, but the configuration can create new challenges for designers.
Terrasmart’s homerun system embraces bi-facial and crystalline modules as well as thin film modules. Pre-engineered parts make it easier to adapt to new technologies and solar developments while saving time and money in the field.
Preventing missteps
Winning teams play both offense and defense. These tips can help developers and EPCs prevent mistakes:
- Avoid generic solutions: While options like bulk wire may seem like time or cost-savers, they can result in higher labor costs, longer equipment rental periods, and more unpredictability in the field. All of this translates to risks of using more wire than needed – escalating expenses – and dealing with quality and consistency issues from manual crimping, cutting, and installation.
- Look for in-house assembly: an eBOS partner that provides 100% in-house assembly allows you to better manage quality and gives you more control over lead times. In-house teams tend to have more responsive customer service and experienced team members.
- Seek out collaborative partnerships: The hardware components of a wiring or harness solution are only one piece of a partnership puzzle. Does the team act as an extension of your own team, partnering with you through the planning stage through completion?
Terrasmart is known for simplifying complexity – bringing unrivaled knowledge of the PV project lifecycle to each unique project, delivering best-in-class lead times with high-quality, high-performance outcomes.
Lessons from the Field – CA Microgrid covers all of its bases
With Terrasmart’s homerun solution, a $6.6 million renewable energy project powers up on time and within budget.
Situation: Neil Jones Food Company engaged Terrasmart for a Firebaugh, California solar microgrid system designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize PV production, and reduce long-term operating costs.
eBOS Solution: Terrasmart’s engineering and design team provided a homerun system with 63 DC e-combiner boxes, positive and negative jumpers, 5,850 of wire, and 5,850 sets of harnesses – all completely customized to the unique project specifications and requirements. The system included ready-to-go wires that were pre-packaged and labeled for easy and accurate installation on site.
Benefits: Terrasmart’s prefabrication, plug-and-play installation, and proactive planning approach saved time and costs in multiple ways. With only one shipment required, the custom wiring solution streamlined delivery and reduced shipping costs, the ease of installation saved time and labor costs in the field, and the problem-solving approach and partnership with CalCom energy meant that all stakeholders could collaboratively keep the project on budget.
Results: The project was completed on time and within budget, and is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,354 metric tons of CO2 annually.
To learn more about ways you can benefit from our wire management solutions, download our brochure and reach out to us here.
