What are the don’ts while choosing a solar EPC?

adminSeptember 25, 2016October 18, 2016 Uncategorized 3 Comments

In order to safeguard from choosing a bad EPC for your solar installation, following the three criteria mentioned below is crucial.

Do not go for lowest cost EPC –It is likely you will end up with the lowest quality solar power plant. In this context, beware of EPCs who start their marketing pitch with their price. An EPC for whom price is the starting point is also an EPC for whom price will be the ending point – he quite likely has no other selling points!
Do not go for EPCs who are unwilling to involve you in decision making for key aspects of the project – While the EPC might be the technical expert, there are critical aspects of the plant where the decision might not be a pure technical decision, but could be techno-strategic or techno-commercial decision. It is imperative that the EPC involves the owners of the projects in these aspects. Beware of EPCs who intend to take all the decisions themselves, with little consultation with you.
Do not go for EPCs who are not willing to introduce you to their key core and extended team members – Most EPCs have a small core team and extensive partnerships with teams with other skill sets. An EPC might have a core team of electrical and solar design experts, but might outsource construction and approvals to others. It is important for you know both their core team and extended partner team. EPCs that are not keen to disclose who their core team members and partners are should be avoided.

You might want to check out these questions too on Choosing EPCs

How Do I Choose the Right Installer for a Rooftop Solar System? – Here
How to Choose the Right EPC for Your Solar PV Power Plant – Here
How do you know whether an EPC is credible? – Here
What metrics should you use to evaluate the past performance of an EPC? – Here
What are the value-added services that can be provided by good EPCs apart from efficient power plant installation? – Here
Should you go for an EPC that provides O&M (Operations and Maintenance) services as well? – Here

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