| Work Detail |
The site features 27 self-supporting, curved, crimped metal roofs, each approximately 52 m x 16 m, which together generate 2.46 MW of solar energy. SEL, the solar division of Corporación Dicoma, a Costa Rican company with extensive experience in photovoltaic installations on industrial metal roofs in Latin America, has launched a photovoltaic installation for self-consumption in Honduras. According to the company, this is the largest PV installation on a curved roof in Central America ??and is located in an industrial park in Villanueva, San Pedro Sula. With over 129,135 m² of built industrial space and another 109,625 m² under development, the park houses 10 warehouses serving industries such as food, textiles, and technology. The site features 27 self-supporting, curved, crimped metal roofs, each approximately 52 m x 16 m, which together generate 2.46 MW of solar energy. The new photovoltaic system uses JinkoSolar modules and Solis inverters, as well as the S-5! PVKIT mounting solution, “the world’s first direct mount system,” according to the company. “Installing a solar system on these curved roofs represents a significant challenge due to their self-supporting design and the absence of a support structure below,” explained Xavier Jara, Energy Coordinator at SEL. “This required a thorough prior structural analysis to ensure the roofs could safely support the additional load of the photovoltaic system.” The owners did not want to modify the existing roofs, so a lightweight solution was required that could be supported by the existing structure. Without a support structure beneath the roof, the project had to adhere to strict weight limitations, ruling out the use of rail systems. Furthermore, no more than three workers were allowed on a single roof at the same time. Pre-assembly and phased installation were key to evenly distributing the weight and avoiding overloading at specific points. The curvature of the roofs added complexity, making it difficult to maintain the required 10 cm clearance between the modules and the roof surface. To optimize load distribution and attachment points, PV columns were spaced 5 to 6 meters apart, aligned with the roofs structural design. Our three-person team installed 148 modules per day, Jara concluded. |
