Warehouse roofs are in many ways the ideal location for PV installations, offering a large, exposed surface area which is not usually in everyday use for any other purpose. At WDP, we are taking advantage of the opportunities they present by making rooftop PV installations a central part of our Climate Action Plan. However, as we work towards our target capacity of 250 megawatt peak by 2025, our clients and their operations remain the top priority.
Over the last 15 years, we have worked closely with our clients to address any concerns they may have before the project begins. In this article, we present the top five questions that come up in the preliminary stage, and the measures we take to ensure business continuity.
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Q1. Will the construction and installation works impact my logistics operation?
As logistics experts, we know the importance of a smooth operation and we understand the cost implications of any obstruction or delay in moving goods in and out of your facility. We minimize this risk with a tailored plan for managing logistics and traffic flow during the project. This may involve rerouting delivery trucks, providing temporary loading and unloading areas or partially scheduling construction during non-peak business hours.
Q2. Will the new cabling and equipment affect my space or cause any inconvenience to my employees?
The ongoing efficiency of your warehouse operation is our main focus when planning for installation and integration of the electrical infrastructure. You will be consulted before we decide on inverter and cable layouts. We aim to minimise the space needed for the inverters and eliminate any noise disturbance for personnel working close to them. Similarly, cabling should have little or no impact on the availability or usage of warehouse space.
Q3. Will you need to cut off the electricity supply and will that interrupt my business?
It is indeed necessary in some cases; here we schedule the disconnection in mutual agreement.
Q4. What about the health and safety of my employees during construction?
Health and safety of warehouse personnel are considered at every point in the process. An occupational safety plan is developed before construction begins, outlining safe work procedures, personal protective equipment requirements and any necessary emergency response procedures. In addition to this, every possible precaution is taken to avoid any disturbance from noise and dust during construction. This often means building during non-peak operating hours.
Q5. Our maintenance workers sometimes need access to the roof. Will they be able to go up there safely during the works?
Access to the roof may be restricted during construction, so plans need to be put in place for any necessary maintenance or repair tasks. If regular access is needed, this is scheduled at suitable times.
For every aspect of the works, planning is key! These decentralised energy plants will play a big part in the transition to a greener logistics industry. Securing the buy-in of warehouse clients and surrounding communities is key to their success and WDP is committed to a collaborative, win-win approach that will continue to deliver value well into the future