Bobonong Sti Tracker Project – 3.37MWp

With a proven delivery track record to both the EPC responsible and the project owner, we were called upon to build and install a single-axis tracker in Bobonong, Botswana.

We were not only willing to work in different markets but also brought strong cross-border Solar PV project experience to the table.

We knew that working in a new country with local requirements could bring with it challenges. When moving into new jurisdictions, there tend to be differences in the way things happen, from renting accommodation to employment of local resources.

We also knew that building a single axis tracker in a new territory would not be easy from a technical perspective but despite this, we found the supplier of the tracker to be immensely helpful to the team.

The project faced two unforeseen challenges, namely some difficulties working with local contractors that we were not fully aware of or perhaps were not sensitive enough to and secondly, the time taken by the EPC to appoint certain contractors on site, which delayed work.

In response:

• We maintained consistency in the messaging and our position of what we wanted in terms of delivery from the local contractors. Working in new markets needs agility and an open mind as processes or ways in which things are typically done in one country or region may not translate effectively in another. Our team managed cultural differences with humility, respect and sensitivity.

Key lessons were:

• We have built several trackers over the years, and they are not all made equal. Some are easier to construct than others. The STi tracker, with the assistance of their technicians, was made significantly easier.
• One of the internal lessons we learned was the need to be in control of greater proportions of the scope of a project. We are in the business of making things easier for clients and as such, we must wrestle or take control of items which we know will have an impact on our ability to deliver on our scope of work.

The project met the quality requirements of the OEM, and both the product and the project are delivering the expected outcomes for the end user. We are well-equipped for work on the African continent. Certainly, we recognise that there will be many challenges, but we have the experience and skills to negotiate through them and still deliver on our responsibilities.

We value challenging work in difficult environments, and this project motivated us to double down on this type of work.