What makes PEG EW the best ground mount solution for the Caribbean?

PEG EW is well adapted for the Caribbean’s high wind environment. The PEG’s high-density, simple and light weight design, streamlines the whole installation process drastically reducing construction effort, materials, logistics, and labor sourcing.

A strong case can be made for utilizing?the patented PEG EW ground mount racking solution for the Caribbean over trackers and other fixed tilt solution based on the PEG's:

Extreme Wind Design?

• Aerodynamic design makes it ideal for hurricane prone regions
• Category 5 hurricane winds can be handled with standard design up to 180 mph winds, wind exposure C (based on ASCE 7 – 16, 7-22, 7-10)
• High load PEG design utilized for 185+ mph winds and wind exposure D

Flexible Slope Tolerances

• PEG can handle ~16.6% slopes with undulations up to 700 mm within 9 meters

Foundation suitability

• Large variety of soil types including sand and limestone

Maximized Land Use

• Industry’s highest ground coverage ratio up to 98%, ~225% more MWh/acre than trackers or FT systems, allowing ideal pairing with DC/DC BESS and hydrogen production

Utilization of local unskilled workers

• Simplicity of install means local unskilled labor force can be utilized. -11 workers can install 1 MW per week

Reduced steel/materials use

• 78% less steel than competitors without concrete foundations means as much as ~50% lower racking and foundation costs

30-40% Reduced EPC costs

• Due to 50% less labor, lower material costs, simplicity of install, no heavy machinery, and high-density

Simplified Logistics

• Compact shipping simplifies import process and logistics to site

Module Pricing

• Lower module pricing in Caribbean makes PEG financially more attractive

Proximity of Caribbean to Equator

• PEG has a higher yield for project closer to the Equator

Bankability

• Bankability report from DNV, 180 PEG projects on 6 continent, in 29 countries with 500+ MW deployed

Low O&M costs and risks

• Fixed tilt is ideal for salt prone regions where moving parts can break over time due to corrosive environments

Extreme Wind Design

Ideal design for Hurricane prone regions

The PEG height is 1m (3 ft) with the modules at 8 degree EW tilt. The systems aerodynamic design allows minimal uplift force during extreme wind hurricane events. The PEG has undergone extensive wind tunnel tests by?IFI?in Germany which had proven the PEG is extremely aerodynamic?allowing it to withstand 186 mph winds and wind exposure C with the standard solution (ASCE 7 – 22). The PEG High Load solution, which includes additional support around the edges of the block is able to withstand 186+ mph winds.

Hurricane Ian 125+ mph Field Tests in Cuba

PEG has been field tested by Hurricane Ian during the construction of the 8 MWp PEG site in Cuba, with the hurricane hitting with 120 mph winds. Many bulkier, more expensive solutions on the island were damaged by similar extreme winds events over the last few years.

Three x 100 mph Storms Hit Landfill PEG site in Netherlands

3 severe storms (Zeynep, Ylenia, and Antonia) with 100 mph winds hit the PEG on the Waalwijk landfill site in the Netherlands during early 2022 with no damage to the PEG.?

There are other PEG sites in Cyclone prone regions of Australia and a 1.5 MW site under installations in the Philippines.

Flexible Slope Tolerances

PEG can handle ~16.6% slopes with undulations up to 700 mm within 9 meters

Below is an example of an 11% grade with installation parallel to slope.

Foundation Suitability

Soil Suitability – Sand, Limestone, and Volcanic Rock

The PEG foundation is done with ?ramming rebar or drilling helical screw. Pull tests are required onsite will determine the suitable solution and foundation depth.

The helical screws can be used on sites with sandy or soft soil with this foundation typically only ~0.4-0.6 meters deep with optional 80, 150 or 250 mm helical screws. A shallow foundation can prove extremely useful with less chances to hit volcanic rock and without the need for expensive pre-drilling.

The foundation solution for limestone rocks is subject to how hard the limestone is. In case the limestone is soft, it is probably possible to ram the rod through the rock using a hammer drill. In case drilling is not possible, predrilling should be done with similar diameter as the rod (15-20mm) or ~1 mm smaller and then ram the rod into the hole without the need for concrete. In case predrilling does not work the solution would include a larger predrilled hole of ~50mm and fill around the rod with mortar/concrete. The solution will be determined following pull tests onsite as shown here with an example of predrill and ramming and grouted rod. Note grouted rods material costs are cheaper than our standard design due to avoiding need for base plates. https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/jurchen-technology-usa_solar-solarenergy-caribbean-activity-7089626452425388032-B2D1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

To the left is a helical screw for softer soils. The size of the helical screw is available in 80 mm, 150 mm and 250 mm. A base plate is not required with the helical screw.

To the left is a standard piece of rebar suitable for harder soils.?

Maximized Land Use

Industry Leading High-Density, Land Use Efficiency?

PEG can produce about 225% more MWh per acre than fixed tilt and tracker systems, as indicated in the DNV GL bankability report. The 98% ground coverage ratio of the PEG makes it the most attractive solution in the industry for a land constrained site with the estimated land use of ~0.8 MW DC/acre (~1.9 MWp/hectare). In Barbados, PEG yield is ~1,830 kWh/kWp/year and 1,372 MWh/acre/year (3,388 MWh/hectare/year). At sites further north in the Caribbean the PEG yield ranges from 1,830 to 1,520 kWh/kWp/year. PEG becomes more and more attractive closer to the Equator.?

Utilization of local unskilled workers

Simplicity of Install?

No pile driving is required to install the PEG, which is a key factor for the system’s quick and easy installations. The hammer drill and crimping tool which are shown below are the two primary tools required for the installations, requiring only few and hand held tools which are commercially available and simple to use. Since heavy machinery are not required sourcing equipment should not be complicated, which is especially critical for installations on small islands. The PEG’s simple design allows installation using unskilled labor which is another benefit, especially for islands where skilled labor might not be available. Assuming the use of 550 watt modules, a total of 455-520 man hours per MW DC is required. System site less than 1 MW would require ~520 man hours per MW while 5 to 10 MW systems will require ~455 man hours per MW. A ~1 MW PEG can be installed per week with a crew of 9-11 workers.

To the right is a breakdown of the man hours highlighted in the paragraph above.?

Reduced Steel/materials use

Compared to conventional fixed tilt tracker system the PEG EW uses 78% less steel.

The light weight PEG design leads to ~50% lower materials costs. Assuming 540 watt modules, 32x12 module block, 0.5 meter embedment and 80mm anchor rods, there would be ~7,000kg of materials per MW DC. For harder soil and larger ground slope additional material might be required. Rods are inserted directly into the ground, avoiding the need for concrete or other foundation material. The complete DC system including the cables is above ground without any DC trenching. Due to the high density of the PEG ~25-30% less DC cables are required compared to other systems.?

30-40% Reduced EPC Costs

Due to 50% less labor, unskilled workers, lower material costs, simplicity of install, no heavy machinery, and high-density

PEG EPC costs are ~30-40% lower excluding interconnect vs other substructures. EPC quotes for the PEG EW can be provided on a project specific basis upon request.

Simplified Logistics

Compact Shipping?

40 foot containers can carry up to 2.25 MW DC of PEG assuming 550W modules. This allows extremely efficient shipping to islands, which can be particularly attractive to islands with limited port sizes. This also helps addressing current port congestion and shipping costs.

Module Pricing

Module pricing makes PEG pencil better financially

As module prices falls the PEG becomes more attractive commercially, as it makes more sense to use a low cost racking solution that is high-density and quick and simple to install with minimal material usage.

Expensive and complicated trackers were once needed to maximize the yield production for expensive solar module assets. However, as asset costs drops significantly a better LCOE could be achieved by minimizing CAPEX and long term O&M costs using the PEG solution.

Proximity of Caribbean to Equator

PEG yield performs better closer to equator

Closer to the Equator the yield variance between trackers, conventional FT and trackers decreases. The PEG racking solution is very attractive for the Caribbean due to the regions’ close proximity to the Equator.

The PEG yield in Barbados is ~1,830 kWh/kWp/year. The PEG yield at sites further north in the Caribbean are 1,520 - 1,830 kWh/kWp/year.

Bankability?

The PEG has been deployed globally on over 500 MW, on 6 continents and 29+ countries making it one of the most popular high-density ground mount solutions globally. Extensive bankability report done by DNV GL, wind tunnel tests done by the reputable IFI engineering firm and over 3.6 GW of substructure supplied by Jurchen Technology globally are all contributing to the bankability of the PEG.

PEG has received debt financing by NAB and Commonwealth Bank in Australia and by ING, Rabobank and a.s.r. in the Netherlands.