Parapet, a provider of EPC solutions in the renewable sector, completed in August the first repowering project for a photovoltaic power plant in Romania Solar Electric Frăsinet, owned by the Austrian Kraftfeld Group. Located in the southern part of the country, the photovoltaic power plant has a total power capacity of 9.5 MWp that spans approximately 16.5 hectares. As part of the repowering efforts, around 3 MWp of the installed capacity has been fully upgraded.
The modernization works consisted of replacing 11.550 photovoltaic panels with new ones, because of cracked back sheets in several modules that lead to underproduction of electricity. The defective modules were replaced as part of a warranty claim, effectively restoring the plant to its full capacity and enhancing its efficiency. Thanks to Parapet’s structural expertise, the repowering works were carried out without the need for structural improvements to support the panels or changes to the positions of the inverters, the approved initial power, or the routes and cross-sections of DC and AC cables.
“The project is one of the pioneering initiatives in Romania, involving the repowering of a photovoltaic park installed during the first wave of renewables in the country. It is the first project of this kind that we are undertaking in Romania and the fifth in Europe, with similar projects completed in France, Germany, and Austria. By replacing the damaged panels, the Frăsinet plant is now able to produce electricity at full capacity once again. The energy generated is delivered to the national grid and can meet the annual consumption needs of over 3,200 households,” said Paul Moldovan, CTO Parapet. “We anticipate an increase in similar projects across Romania, focusing on improving the performance of existing photovoltaic parks and sustaining renewable energy production nationwide.”
“This repowering project demonstrates the maturity of our portfolio and our steadfast commitment to renewable energy and lower-carbon power generation. The technical upgrade was achieved without any additional land use or structural changes, thanks to the higher power density of the new modules. We appreciate the work carried out by Parapet at our Frasinet 2 solar farm, we commend their exemplary management and communication throughout the project, and we look forward to future collaborations” said Ben Salm-Reifferscheidt, Managing Director at Kraftfeld.
In line with Parapet’s sustainability strategy, 220 tons of photovoltaic waste, generated by the panel replacements, were recycled through a local authorized contractor. The recycled materials included 165.1 tons of glass (75%), 19.8 tons of aluminum (9%), 6.6 tons of silicon (3%), 3.3 tons of copper (1.5%), and 25.3 tons of adhesive (11.5%).
Parapet has undertaken similar projects for the repowering of photovoltaic power plants in France, Germany, and Austria. These projects involved replacing 100,000 photovoltaic panels and enhancing their efficiency by approximately 30%, while extending the lifespan of the repowered power plants by 15 years.