Timing of Installation and Commissioning

Hi Michaella,

I have the same question - wasn't clear how timing came into play for solar gardens / campus PV farm scenarios. My gut is that it would need to be complete within a reasonable time after LEED project building completion.....less than a year maybe, with formal letter from Solar Farm Owner (ideally an actual excerpt of CX contract) to assert/demonstrate CX scope will be completed....similar to how delayed / deferred seasonal testing & warranty phase activity completion is documented for LEED CX.

Open to feedback from others!

I don't see this requirement mentioned in the Reference Guide so I am not sure why it shows up on the form. In the past credit has been awarded with some sort of documented commitment from the owner. I would think that would still be allowed.

For on-site solar PV installations, we sometimes see Owners waiting until just after occupancy to install the system, so it doesn't potentially interfere with obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy for the building. If the Owner is committed to installing the system within a reasonable amount of time after occupancy (a few months) we believe it meets the intent of the credit.

I've heard USGBC TAGs are using LEEDuser as a source for LEED v4.1 fixes. It sounds like this form needs to updated as part of LEED v4.1 reboot. I think addreses the small inconsistencies like this can really help make LEED a better tool.

(I've successfully had projects install solar at the end, commission the systems, and then receive LEED credit for the installations.)

Hi guys, 

We recently had an experience with a project where the reviewers require that the PV system be fully installed. They are allowing us to send the review pending commissioning for the system. However, they were very specific that the system must be installed, we were not allowed to submit a letter of intent from the owner. 

Hope this helps!

Our project will be supplied with renewable energy from an adjacent site.  As the renewable energy system is outside of our LEED project boundary, are we exempt from submitting a commissioning report for this system?  What if it is an existing system?

I think it is exempt because it is not a part of the scope of work for the project.

Is the Renewable Energy System owned by the client?

Yes, municipal entity.

Does the solar system feed into the grid and equivalent credit is taken through net metering? Then I would agree it is separate from commissioning.

If the solar energy is being treated as on-site power and the connection between LEED project and solar facility is direct then philosophically it might need to be considered as to the relative capacity of the solar facility - in that case the electrical system is integral to the project but could still be minor in terms of treating it like district energy. 

David,

thanks for pointing this out.  We are in the process of getting confirmation on how this will be done.  

The responses so for from GBCI is that commissioning is required.  I'm still confused as to how this might be accomplished with an existing system...

Any insight, anyone?

Hi Deborah,

Curious if you have navigated through the CX plan for the existing PV array yet? In my case I have a municipal client with a modest sized existing campus PV "farm" not previously allocated to any LEED project. The plan is for it to be attributed to a new construction LEED project within the same campus/property. As the Client owns the system and is responsible for its O&M, our current CX approach is as follows -   Given the timeline needed for O&M vs capital budget planning, the owner has been advancing the CX effort of the existing array separate from the LEED new construction project CX. To date the municipal client/owner has directly engaged a local PV O&M service provider for diagnostic services of the system. Diagnostic functional testing determined several system inverters were malfunctioning, reducing the overall energy generation. Accordingly, replacement of those inverters, along with panel surface cleaning and other minor repairs were formally recommended by the Provider and are being actively budgeted by the Client to occur (ideally prior to) construction completion of the LEED project.

I am still investigating whether the "retro-CX" functional testing/system performance verification conducted by a specialty O&M group ("specialty CX agent?") MUST be included in the LEED Project's CX report (validated/formally acknowledged by the LEED Proj CX Authority). However, as this same group will also be conducting the repair work they are now ALSO akin to an “installer.” Therefore, to ensure impartial confirmation of satisfactory system functional conditions reported by the O&M CX agent/repair provider, I would anticipate the CXA would need to witness final (post-repair) testing… but welcome any lessons learned by others.

Joanna,

we have not completed the process - CxA reports only come due after project completion, which is another 6 months (or more) out.
However, we have ascertained that a Commissioning Report from a different CxA is acceptable.  Our past project experience has been that the PV vendor/installer provides the commissioning, and that seems to be acceptable to GBCI.

Good luck!