VEN Pre/Post Installation Inspection

As part of a larger effort to increase their energy efficiency, Vivo Energy Namibia has installed solar photo-voltaic (PV) power systems at a select group of Shell fuel stations. Following the initial success of solar power installation at these stations, and the continued drive to harness clean energy at all their fuel stations, the company is currently planning solar PV system installations at twenty (20) Shell service stations across Namibia.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

To enable the abovementioned solar PV installations, Lithon Project Consultants (Pty) Ltd. Structural department was appointed to investigate and analyse the existing structural capacity of several roof structures at the twenty Shell service stations mentioned above. The objective of the investigation was to determine if the various roofs and canopies have the capacity to carry an additional load induced by newly proposed solar panel systems. Considering the old age of many of the stations and the lack of up-to-date information on file (drawings, accommodation schedules etc.), the scope of services were extended to include collecting, compiling and updating the as-built drawings of all stations. For the first four stations (Stage 1), the scope of services also included the design of structural reinforcements to increase the load carrying capacity of roofs that are unable to support the weight of PV panels.