Space planning for big PV systems

[hypothalamoose]

Ah, I think I'm extremely blessed when I tell this that I'm a fresh graduate with an architect team on a commercial solar design and trying to figure out how much interior space we need to allocate for system components. Big job right? Anyway, the total solar surface could exceed 500,000 sq. ft. across two roofs and a parking area. I understand inverters can be roof-mounted, but how do we estimate the square footage needed for transformers, switchgear, and related equipment inside the building? Just need some rough estimates for early space planning so any insights at all are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[RobtheGreat]

Allocate about 400 to 600 sq ft for interior gear like switchgear, MV transformers, and controls, depending on the layout and voltage levels. More if you're centralizing everything, always better to overshoot a bit during early planning

 

[wattwanderer761]

Huge congrats on landing that project, it's a monumental one! As a quick rule of thumb, you might want to budget around 250 to 500 square feet for every megawatt AC when it comes to all the interior gear like transformers, switchgear, and controls. Of course, the precise space you'll need can vary depending on the size of your system, the voltages you're working with, and how easy you need it to be to access everything

By the way, have you figured out your target MWac capacity yet? Knowing that will definitely help you fine-tune your estimates