Faster PV project approvals: from grid compliance to planning documentation | Webinar by RatedPower

Webinar summary — “Faster PV project approvals: from grid compliance to planning documentation” (RatedPower)

Scope and purpose

• Overview of the tender/planning documentation required to approve PV and hybrid PV + BESS projects across multiple markets (Europe, Balkans, UK, Italy, France, Singapore, Southeast Asia).
• Demonstration of how RatedPower’s cloud software generates the technical, commercial and tender-ready documentation needed for grid connection and planning submissions.

Key market requirements and trends (high-level)

United Kingdom

• Post-“grid reform” requires increased detail:
  • Single Line Diagrams (SLDs) for interconnection facilities and PV plant SLDs/layouts
  • Power-flow models
  • BOQ (bill of quantities)
  • Project timeline
  • BESS documents for collocated or standalone BESS

Italy

• Private tendering; mature but time-consuming planning tenders:
  • Detailed design reports (equipment location, environmental/landscape constraints)
  • Layouts and cross-sections
  • SLDs
• Policy limits on agricultural land have driven growth in agrivoltaics and additions of BESS to existing plants

France

• Mature market with requirements overlapping the UK:
  • Interconnection SLDs, electrical design summary, cable sizing/routing, power-flow inputs, BOQ
  • Planning often requires land-occupation statistics (avoid fertile land), PV layout, electrical configuration, yield estimates, and BESS documents

Central & Eastern Europe / Balkans

• Mixed practices across countries:
  • Some follow IEC/EU-like standards (e.g., Greece, Poland, Romania)
  • Others have looser requirements and may not request SLDs (e.g., Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo)
• Language and standards coverage is uneven
• Market growth driven by EU funds and gas-diversification efforts

Singapore / Southeast Asia

• Singaporean developers often use remote sites (Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, NZ):
  • Common needs: due-diligence packages, BOQs, financial analysis, yield reports
• Indonesia faces political/monopoly issues slowing development
• Topography and detailed financial analysis are especially important across SEA

General conclusion

• In markets where RatedPower supports local electrical standards and languages, developers/EPCs with in-house electrical engineers can eliminate outsourcing.
• In other markets, the platform still reduces time and cost but may require localization support.

RatedPower product — features, workflow, and outputs

Platform overview

• Cloud-based software for designing optimized utility-scale PV plants, hybrid PV+storage and standalone BESS.
• Centralizes project inputs, configuration and deliverables.

Inputs (what users provide)

• Site location and topography
• Meteorological data
• Equipment choices (modules, inverters, structures)
• Layout and configuration options
• Interconnection details and routing constraints
• Cable/earthing criteria
• BESS parameters
• Economic inputs/pricing

Design and modeling capabilities

• PV layout generation (including scattered parcels), stringing, inverter assignment, transformer/power station placement
• Cable sizing engine:
  • Supports multiple electrical standards (IEC, NSC, Australian, Chinese/GB, etc.)
  • Allows voltage-drop limits and conductor cross-section restrictions
  • Produces a cable-listing Excel with selection rationale and warnings for unrealistic inputs
• Energy yield modeling:
  • Built-in yield engine with P50/P90/P99 outputs
  • Exportable 3D scene / PVcollider file for re-run in PVSyst (bankable reference)
  • Loss breakdown and hourly net injection profiles (hourly injection charts useful for grid studies and PPA negotiation)
• Power-flow modelling:
  • Exports raw power-flow data compatible with external tools for grid studies
• BESS modeling:
  • Layouts, SLDs, BOQs, design reports
  • Performance modeling based on arbitrage/dispatch strategies (users can set cycle hours)
  • Further dispatch tools (Excel dispatch/export) planned or recently released
• 3D visualization:
  • Terrain-aware 3D model and shadow animation
  • Exportable to common formats (CAD/KML)
  • Future plans to add external objects (buildings, trees, wind turbines) for improved landscape/visual impact assessment

Outputs / deliverables

• Full documentation package (>400 pages per project) in multiple formats: PDF, DOCX, Excel, DXF/CAD, KML and power‑flow raw files
• Exportable 3D/PVcollider files for PVSyst compatibility
• Key generated documents:
  • Project Sheet (editable Excel summary)
  • Design Report (PDF/DOCX with site, topography, horizon, solar resource, equipment tables, inverter specs, trench cross-sections)
  • Plant Layouts (KML, DXF, PDF with legends and scale)
  • Single Line Diagrams (MV/LV/MV-LV for PV, interconnection facility, BESS)
  • Energy Yield Report (P50, P90, etc.)
  • BOQ/BOM Excel and cable listing
  • Financial analysis: link BOQ to price sheet for total cost and LCOE; optional IRR/ROI with revenue inputs
• Customization options:
  • Document language (at least eight languages noted: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, German)
  • Unit system (metric/imperial)
  • Coordinate reference system for CAD/KML exports
  • Company/client logo insertion

Transparency & validation

• Calculations and selection rationale are published and accessible for audit/backtracking
• Energy-yield basis aligns with PVSyst; 3D modeling and yield validated with client tests (example: Spanish client)

Collaboration & format flexibility

• CAD/DXF SLDs and drawings are editable locally to meet local authority preferences (e.g., remove sensitive details)
• Exports facilitate submission to grid operators or handoff to local engineers/consultants

Common pitfalls and recommendations (from Q&A)

• Data mismatch and inaccurate inputs are the most common issues — ensure accurate meteorological data and topography inputs
• Iterate inputs and settings (equipment choices, standards, voltage-drop limits) to converge on realistic designs
• For markets with differing electrical standards or languages, RatedPower reduces time/cost but local engineering or translation may still be required

Guides, demos, and follow-up

• RatedPower offers demonstrations and sends a follow-up package including the demo project full documentation and webinar recording
• Attendees will receive the recording/document package by email
• The RatedPower team will answer detailed remaining questions by email after the webinar

Note: Several personal names and some technical terms in the subtitles were transcribed inconsistently. Interpretations in this summary reflect intended meanings where subtitles appeared garbled (for example, a reference to an upcoming Excel dispatch/strategy tool).

Main speakers / sources

• Femke (market overview presenter; name appears variably in subtitles as FEM/FMK/FK)
• Helen / Elenat (technical advisor / product demo)
• Javier (marketing team member; responsible for distributing webinar recording and follow-up materials)
• Company: RatedPower (webinar host and software provider)