Page 34 - Reimagine-another power is possible.cdr

Monsoon hampers solar plant Construction of the power plant was
construction also hampered by the effects of the
southwest monsoon or the “habagat”
Setting up the solar PV power plant in winds. The waves in the channel were
the island has presented itself with strengthened by the monsoon, causing
unique challenges mostly as a result of construction to be delayed. The lack of
its isolation from the mainland. The carrying vehicles such as trucks and
construction of the power plant lorries on the island also presented a
involves the deliver y of large challenge for transporting the
equipment. The lack of large shipping equipment from the shoreline to the
v e s s e l s s u c h a s b a r g e s w e r e project site. More than twenty men had
unavailable, making bamboo rafts the to carry the equipment such as battery
only options. The rafts needed to be cells, genset, and solar panels.
reinforced with plastic barrels to
prevent the equipment on board from For construction of the power plant
sinking. The tide schedules were also itself, cement and aggregates had to be
considered when loading and sourced from Culasi rather than
unloading the equipment from the quarried in the site itself due to laws
rafts. Difculties were encountered that prohibit quarrying in protected
when equipment was unloaded during areas. Additional costs were incurred
low tide because the water level was to transport the cement and aggregates
lower than the dock. from the mainland to the project site.

30