Photovoltaic Power Plant Hipol Odzaci
Our client, Hipol, is one of the few producers of polypropylene in this region, with an annual capacity of 35,000 tons.
Hipol has built a photovoltaic power plant in Odžaci, in the northwest of Serbia. On that occasion, he entrusted Oktopaz with the management of construction supervision.
Our construction supervision included building structures and materials, as well as electrical building services. We proposed and then supervised the implementation of Elektroprivreda Srbije‘s recommendations, which are important for the sustainable functioning of the system. As with all our projects, Oktopaz carefully monitored construction activities and ensured that our client received timely information on all relevant aspects of the project.
The photovoltaic power plant “Hipol”, on the ground, with the corresponding step-up transformer station, has an output active power of 2.97 MW. With this construction, our client acquires the status of a buyer-producer per the new Law on the Use of Renewable Energy Sources.
The solar power plant will work in parallel with the electricity distribution system. The energy is used for the complex’s consumption, and the surplus is handed over to the electricity distribution system.
The produced electricity is transferred to the facility’s consumption via twenty-seven inverters, which convert the direct current energy of the solar panels into alternating current. It is intended that inverters work exclusively in parallel with the electrical distribution network, and “island” operation is not provided. Each inverter has protection against islanding, which activates in the event of a power failure. Inverters have a nominal voltage range of 380-400 V.
Internal transport paths have been formed inside the solar power plant complex. Their use is during the construction and operation of the power plant. The paths are 3-6 meters wide. The contractor did not modify the existing terrain levelling.
The construction is designed to allow future agricultural land use.
The construction is two-axle, which enables easier access for machines and tillage. The piles are made in the form of C profiles from hot-dip galvanised steel.
The main and transverse rails for carrying the panels are made in the form of a steel C-profile, coated with a layer of zinc-aluminium-magnesium. During cutting, this layer in contact with air creates a protective layer against corrosion.
The rest of the structure is made of steel (hot-dip galvanised, or coated with the previously mentioned alloy), except for the clamps for securing the panels, which are made of anodised aluminium.
A total of 6,156 solar panels were installed, with an individual installed power of 580 Wp. The total installed DC power in solar panels is 3.57 MWp.
The transformer station, with a base of 4.3 x 5.06 meters, is a typical building from prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. It has smooth external and internal surfaces, ensuring water tightness and thus resistance to the impact of frost. The components are connected with galvanised screws. When connecting the foundations and cups, the screws are filled with bitumen to protect against corrosion. Each element is supplied with a galvanised earthing nut.
The lightning arrester system consists of arresters with early start, lightning arresters and strip grounding of the site.