Construction of a typical roof-mounted system (say 100 kWp capacity) takes about four weeks, whereas a similar sized ground-mounted system can take double this time. Installation works involve mounting and wiring panels and inverters, with mounts constructed to support ground-mounted panels.

Sunergise does not own any facilities such as offices or depots, but leases warehouse space for the temporary storage of solar equipment upon arrival in Fiji. Clay Energy leases a depot in Suva that houses its offices, a workshop for assembly, maintenance and repairs, and warehouse and yard storage for a limited amount of inventory (electrical gear, solar panels, inverters, batteries, etc). This 1,200 m2 facility will continue to be leased or a depot will be purchased.

Energy Efficiency
Sunergise? solar energy system design is based on current best practice using crystalline panels that convert sunlight to DC energy at a high energy conversion efficiency rate. Photovoltaic crystalline modules are primarily sourced from Trina Solar, the second largest manufacturer of solar panels in the world. Solar panels repay the energy used in their manufacture in less than one year of operation in Fiji (source: Trina Solar).

The principal environmental benefit of installing solar energy systems is a reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) produced by replacing grid-generated power from fossil fuel combustion with renewable energy. For each 1 MWp of installed solar power it is estimated that around 900 tCO2eq/annum of GHGs will be avoided based on peak daytime loads currently being met by diesel generation of grid electricity in Fiji and 1,600 MWhr/annum of electricity generated per installed MWp. Accordingly, the project will reduce the generation of GHGs by an estimated 2,745 tCO2eq/annum with the targeted installation of 3.05 MWp by the end of 2014.

The depot is supplied with electricity from the FEA grid, which is used for lighting, office air conditioning, workshop power, computers and other office equipment. Energy saving measures in the depot and offices include compact fluorescent lighting and 1kW of rooftop solar panels that offset around 4 kWh/day electricity consumption. Another small-scale energy use is fuel used in Company vehicles.
Water and Wastewater
Annual water consumption in Clay Energy?s Suva depot is minor at around 120,000 L per annum, sourced from the city supply operated by the Water Authority of Fiji. Water use at the depot consists of human consumption, hygiene uses such as hand washing and showering, in toilets, for depot cleaning as well as being plumbed to fire reels. Sewage from the depot is treated in the town system operated by the Council.

Water requirements during construction are minor, consisting of water for cement mixing for ground mounts, washing equipment and drinking water. Water may be used to wash some panels of accumulated dirt at some installations once a year with a pressurized hose using water from municipal supplies. As most panels are mounted at the roof grade of greater than 10% the panels are self-cleaning from rainfall. Depot stormwater is discharged into the watercourse at the rear of the premises, but there is no spill containment device fitted to the system.
Waste and Hazardous Materials
The installation and maintenance of solar energy systems generate small volumes of generally non-hazardous waste. These impacts have the potential to affect local residents and businesses, but can be adequately managed through the effective implementation of standard mitigation measures. 

The primary solid waste streams from Company activities are: (i) office waste ? paper, plastic, glass, e-waste, etc; (ii) packaging from new panels, inverters and other components; (iii) wiring off-cuts; (iv) used either sealed or flooded lead-acid batteries collected from off-grid installations; and (v) non-repairable electrical components. Off-grid batteries provide a slow discharge from thick plates, with battery life generally ranging between 3-12 years. Flooded lead-acid batteries have the potential to leak, whereas sealed batteries are less likely to and therefore preferred. Waste will be managed in accordance with a waste management procedure that will be developed by Sunergise, setting out waste handling, reuse, recycling and disposal. All waste is segregated on site and removed from site to be stored in designated waste bins at the depot. Recyclable materials are either given or sold to local recyclers, while non-reusable materials are disposed of in Council-operated landfills (e.g. Suva City) via waste contractor skip bins that are hired to transport these materials as required. Sunergise will manage the disposal of PV modules.

Hazardous materials stored in the depot include cleaning agents, diesel in jerry cans and 205 L drums, oils/lubricants, and new and used lead-acid batteries. Spills are cleaned up by hand.

Other Issues
The potential visual or aesthetic impact of solar panels can be an important consideration of customers, whether they are sited on roofs or on the ground, particularly for businesses such as resorts that rely upon tourism. Panel sites are negotiated with each customer to minimize the visual impact where possible whilst ensure that solar exposure is not unduly reduced. The reflection of sunlight off solar panels is minimized by a rough texture finish on the surface of the panels. This is important on most sites, but even more so near airports.

Construction noise is relatively minor with little chance of disturbing nearby local residences and businesses as it is restricted to small hand tools and cranes to lift panels onto multi-storey buildings. This potential impact will be managed by restricting site working hours to between 8 am and 6 pm six days a week and ensuring that cranes and tools are operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturer?s requirements.
The erosion and sedimentation hazard created during the construction of ground mounts is minor due to limited area of ground disturbance per post on generally flat sites, while a minor volume of spoil is generated from each footing.