Will EPC contracts provide for the handover of a solar facility?

EPC Contracts will not provide for the handover of the solar facility to the Project Company, and the PPA will not become effective until all commissioning and reliability trialling has been successfully completed.

Should you choose an EPC contract for a solar project?

Given the significant monetary value of EPC Contracts, and the potential adverse consequences if problems occur during construction, the lowest price should not be the only factor used when selecting a Contractor. As noted earlier, an EPC Contract is one of a suite of agreements necessary to develop a solar project.

What happens if the EPC contract is uncertain?

Any uncertainty in the EPC Contract may unfortunately see the Contractor liaising directly with these third parties and possibly risking the relationship of the Project Company with key influencers, customers and long-term neighbours.

Should a solar project have a guarantee test?

In some projects, the guarantee tests occur after handover of the solar facility to the Project Company. This means the Contractor no longer has any liability for DLDs during performance testing. In our view, it is preferable, especially in project-financed projects, for handover to occur after completion of performance testing.