PA/01103

Site preparation, construction and decommissioning methodology

Wilmington Farm 2.34mw PV Solar Park

Contents

1.0 Construction Methodology

 1.1 Project Timelines

 1.2 Methodology
2.0 Site Logistics

 2.1 Office and Welfare Accommodation

 2.2 Unloading and materials storage
 2.3 Materials movement

3.0 Construction Management

 3.1 Vehicle data

 3.2 Highways inspection
 3.3 Signing scheme
 3.4 Workers onsite
 3.5 Construction hours

4.0 Access plans

 4.1 Temporary road materials

 4.2 Tree root protection
 4.3 Local haulage companies

5.0 Security measures

 5.1 Perimeter security

 5.2 Internal housing alarms
 5.3 CCTV
 5.4 Fire alarm systems

6.0 Decommissioning methodology

 6.1 Panels
 6.2 Electrical equipment
 6.3 Fencing
 6.4 Timeframe

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1.0 Construction Methodology

Full construction methodology is managed by Ethical Power Ltd and their experienced EPC partners, Sunfarming UK Limited who
are sub- contracted to carry out specific works packages on this site. The basic installation method is set out here. The solar pv
installation will be staged over a 5 week period and will include periods of site preparation, installation, testing and
commissioning, followed by project takeover from the EPC partners to the Ethical Power team.

1.1 Project timelines
A construction program will be set out in full by Ethical Power and will be managed closely to ensure
timely commissioning. The below staged example sets out project to commissioning and project handover, with delivery timing
and component installation overlapping. It is anticipated that work will commence in the first week of November 2014.

Steps laid out in the above project plan are set out in stages below alongside example images taken from existing solar parks.
Preparation and installation works will cover a span of 4 1/2 weeks, followed by 1 1/2 weeks of testing and commissioning prior to
completion and project handover.

Site preparation

 Field survey
 Site preparation, preliminary earthworks and leveling
 Street works, fence, security system
 Earthwork cables, ditches

 Field survey

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 Site preparation, preliminary earthworks and leveling

Electrical infrastructure

There are no photographs showing the electrical infrastructure in a site using concrete shoes and therefore the following are
illustrative of a more usual installation. The principle is however the same, though there will be no cable trenching in areas
identified as being of high archaeological importance where there will be a watching brief.

 Delivery of transfer station

 Laying of string inlets
 Laying DC-main line
 Laying of MV cables
 Delivery of DC cabinets
 Connection of MV cables
 Earthwork DC cabinets
 Mounting and connection of DC cabinets (below)
 Closing cables ditches

 Street works, fence, security system

 Earthwork cables, ditches

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Panel delivery and installation

 Delivery of modules
 Mounting of modules
 Connection of modules

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Testing and commissioning

 Cold test / commissioning

 Ready for accreditation
 Substantial completion

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 Start-up inverter
 Start-up transformer
 Install communication system
 Test run
 Completion / final acceptance
 Project takeover instruction

1.2 Methodology

 Ground anchoring is a simple process of driving piles into the ground at certain intervals using a post-driving machine.
Sunfarming UK Limited are the specialist company involved to do this and have extensive methodology processes listed
for viewing if required but the general layout is shown below.

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 Trenching and cabling
The following diagram, also appended, provides cross-sectional detail on trenching, cabling
position, connection into the inverter hut and positioning of the foundation slab.

2.0 Site logistics

This section sets out the logistics for the workforce, machinery and materials on site, however a detailed traffic management plan
document goes into further detail and accompanies this.

2.1 Office and welfare accommodation Space has been allocated on site for the location of office and welfare. The extent of
accommodation will be restricted to necessity via discussions with each sub-contractor prior to appointment.

2.2 Unloading, storage, plan of site most unloading will be by forklift and other mechanical means with manual handling for small
items only.

2.3 Material movements

The following initiatives will be used, where appropriate:

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 A site delivery booking system (in order to limit the volume of vehicles coming to the site at any one time)
 Restrictions on the time of day deliveries can be made
 Pre-fabrication to assist in reducing deliveries
A materials transportation plan to include a methodology for deliveries, unloading and 
distributing materials

3.0 Construction Management Plan

3.1 Vehicle data It has been confirmed with the Council traffic management department that the only requirement for a formal
traffic management plan is if it is intended to use vehicles of over a certain size, such as those used to carry abnormal loads. The
current UK limits, set out in full in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078), as amended, are as
follows:

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3.2 Highways

A detailed photographic record has therefore been produced of the existing condition of the verges, road surfaces at access
points, passing places and junctions. Any damage that arises as a result of the development will be remedied.

3.3 Signing scheme along route

Standard directional signage will be provided for site traffic at every road junction from the Link Road to the site itself.

3.4 Workers on site

A maximum of up to 15 construction workers is anticipated to be required on site at any one time. During construction, the
workforce will travel to and from the site on a daily basis. The use of mini-buses, public transport (where possible) and car sharing
will be encouraged and planned, to reduce the number of vehicular movements. Parking for site workers will be on- site.

Following the construction phase and during the operation of the site it will only be necessary for maintenance and security traffic
to visit the site. This will involve very few vehicular movements, of the order of one or two visits to site per quarter.

3.5 Construction hours

Unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority, construction work involving machinery but excluding hand
power tools shall only take place between the hours of:

08:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturdays No construction work involving machinery shall take place on Sundays and bank holidays.

4.0 Access plans

The proposed site offers one access point during construction, as indicated on the associated Construction Traffic Management
Plan. It has been calculated that the vehicles specified in the above management plan will be able to use the existing access point
without requirement to widen or change the existing layout however as indicated in the traffic plan we propose to use tractor
trailer units to enter the site to prevent any problems loading into the site in poor weather conditions

4.1 Local haulage companies

As part of the Traffic Management Plan we have undertaken detailed discussions with the largest haulage companies operating in
the area. They are:
There are local companies that we could consider using for haulage purposes to service the proposed solar farms. These
companies all have local knowledge and experience and currently all undertake contracts for delivery of agricultural equipment,
feeds and fertilisers. Using local hauliers ensures that local access issues will be identified and any problems overcome at an early
stage, whilst also ensuring a benefit to the local economy in terms of jobs and investment. Use of local companies will also reduce
transportation emissions otherwise incurred delivering transport to the area. Initial discussions clarified that these companies
would be able to provide the required haulage service and would use existing or new 44 tonne trucks from their fleets. Their
current operations use 44 tonne articulated vehicles to undertake deliveries to farms in rural areas across the Bath and North East
Somerset area. All companies confirmed that there may be local access issues relating to specific sites but confirmed that in
approximately 85% of their current operations, sites could be accessed by 44 tonne vehicles without restriction across the area.

5.0 Security measures

In order to ensure high quality, robust security across all sites we have partnered with an expert in delivering security and fire
systems, MBSS. MBSS are used to produce suitable designs for the site including perimeter security to the location fence line,
internal security plus fire detection and suppression for the electrical equipment huts on site, as well as CCTV at key locations.

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Systems must be able to withstand the weather and environment and will connect with a remote monitoring station where any
intrusion or fault/failure condition can be observed.

5.1 Perimeter security alarm

None

5.2 Housing, internal alarm


None

5.3 CCTV

CCTV cameras are to be located to give vision of the entrance gates according to specifications, with cameras to view the site
building. These are to be controlled and recorded via an onsite CCTV hard disc recorder suitable to store images for up to 31 days.
These cameras are also to be monitored by the offsite monitoring station. MBSS recommend that additional external CCTV
cameras are mounted on the site building to provide a second layer of defence to the site, the principle being that if a fence
detector is activated that a camera will automatically pan to the area giving general vision of the intrusion; the offsite monitoring
station can then pan and zoom the camera remotely to gain greater clarity of the situation and, with the advantage of site audio,
warn off would-be intruders before any damage can occur.

5.4 Fire alarm systems

None

6.0 Decommissioning Methodology

Compared to other power generation technologies, solar parks can be easily and economically decommissioned and removed
from the site at the end of their economic life with the site returned to its original condition. There would be little or no trace that
the solar park had existed following decommissioning. There are several aspects involved with the decommissioning phase. The
main activities are given here.

6.1 Panel removal:

Paneling is unfixed from mounts and then taken away for recycling

6.2 Electrical equipment:

Cabling is dug up out of the ground and removed, along with ancillary structures. The inverter and transformer housing is removed
using a crane. The prefabricated concrete slab upon which they are supported can be either lifted or broken up and removed.

6.3 Fencing:

This is very easily removed from the ground and transported off site.

6.4 Timeframe

Site decommissioning will take place over a period of no more than twelve months following the cessation of electricity
generation, subject to LPA consultation and requirements.

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