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DRD Solar Project

Project Type
  • Energy Infrastructure
Location
Project Overview

Lumax Energy supplied the PV mounting structure for the project. This structure is a single-axis tracking system that tracks the sun throughout the day from 55 degrees East to West. This system is known for the increased yield as compared to fixed-tilt solutions. The SAT structure consists of galvanised steel columns anchored to concrete foundations, carrying torque tubes supported by steel drive posts and trusses.

Project Details
All steel components, including raw materials from ArcelorMittal, were locally sourced and processed through regional fabricators, tube mills and galvanizers. While standard sections like square hollow sections and lipped channels were quick to produce, custom elements caused delays, taking 35% longer despite comprising only 26% of the project’s weight. These challenges pushed the manufacturing team to scale up production speed significantly, eventually matching or exceeding the construction pace. Erection was carried out by a third-party contractor under Lumax Energy’s QA oversight.
One challenge we faced was the initial selection of the IPE lengths used early in the project, which were not optimal and caused longer lead times and unnecessary manufacturing waste. To address this, we reduced the length of the IPE sections after completing a thorough design analysis to confirm the change wouldn’t compromise structural integrity. A detailed design report was then issued to verify and communicate the solution, ensuring confidence for all stakeholders. The biggest challenges from a manufacturing point of view were to ensure that each item are manufactured at the required pace. Each item was required to be manufactured at a pace much higher than the current manufacturing plant was equipped to comply with. This provided the required stress testing on the system that allowed for impressive growth within the company. The supply speed increased with every month from the start of the project until the supply rate matched or even exceeded the construction rate.