By Vvon Engineering Team | Published | Updated
A practical brief for DG Food depot solar: facility loads, roof assessment, financial assumptions, current procurement rules and utility approval.
Solar EPC & street lighting RFQ checklist (TXT)
For a government food depot, begin with its own operating loads, roof records and procurement authority. This guide helps depot managers and procurement teams build a solar brief without assuming that every storage building has the same structure, tariff or demand.
Local Supply Depots, Central Storage Depots and silo facilities differ in handling equipment, operating schedules and roofs. Use the current Directorate General of Food asset register and facility drawings for the site under review.
| Facility | Questions for the site team |
|---|---|
| Local depot | Which halls and offices share the meter, and when do handling and ventilation operate? |
| Central depot | What are the seasonal movements, equipment loads, roof interfaces and separate connections? |
| Silo | Which conveying, aeration and auxiliary loads are electrical, and which safe roof or ground areas are available? |
Survey usable area, roof material, structure, wind exposure, access and drainage. Government ownership does not remove restrictions on asset use or the need for departmental approval. Use the tariff category and rates on the actual bill.
Record lighting, ventilation, handling machinery, offices and pumping demand. Identify fire and other essential loads through their separate approved design. Storage tonnage is not a substitute for measured kW and kWh.
| Load group | Record |
|---|---|
| Storage and handling | Motor ratings, operating intervals and seasonal throughput. |
| Ventilation | Permitted control strategy and measured duty. |
| Offices and lighting | Operating hours and separate metering. |
| Pumps | Normal duty, starting current and required backup. |
Use a dated quotation, surveyed layout and location-specific generation model. Separate self-consumption from exports, add maintenance and replacement costs, and show a downside scenario. Do not assume financing makes the project cash-positive from its first year.
| Input | Evidence needed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Consumption | Twelve months of bills and representative interval demand | Separates direct use, exports and changing demand. |
| Generation | Location, layout, weather dataset and loss assumptions | Estimates output month by month. |
| Connection | Sanctioned load, transformer and utility requirements | Establishes eligible capacity and approval conditions. |
| Installed cost | Dated itemised quotation and exclusions | Includes roof work, connection and commissioning. |
| Operating cost | Maintenance, insurance and replacement assumptions | Avoids treating later electricity as cost-free. |
Government ownership alone does not establish net-metering eligibility. Identify the supplying utility from the bill and obtain its current capacity, metering and application requirements. Use the application guide to prepare the file.
A canopy may combine shade and generation where loading clearance, vehicle impact protection, foundations, drainage and fire access allow it. Do not shade a grain-drying area without the storage operator's approval of the effect on the drying process.
| Option | Compare before selecting |
|---|---|
| Warehouse roof | Structure, waterproofing, access and future roof repairs. |
| Loading-bay canopy | Truck height, turning, impact protection and foundations. |
| Ground array | Land authority, drainage, security and operational access. |
Obtain written confirmation of any proposed finance or tax treatment from the competent institution. Policy targets and SREDA equipment records do not automatically create a grant, tax holiday or concession for a public-facility rooftop project. Keep unconfirmed incentives out of the base financial case.
Have a competent structural engineer assess the actual roof and load path regardless of the building's age. Include equipment weight, ballast where used, local reactions, wind and service access. Agree waterproofing and roof repair responsibilities before installation.
The procurement office should use current BPPA rules, including PPR 2025 and applicable amendments, circulars and funding conditions. Confirm the approval route and whether a development-project document is required. Prepare measurable specifications, responsibilities, acceptance criteria and operating cost within the applicable tender process.
Request a written proposal defining the feasibility, design, utility and documentation work Vvon will provide. Confirm fees, professional responsibilities and maintenance duration in the agreement; company registration or OEM authorisation should be supported by current documents.
Consult the relevant edition and the documents for the exact equipment and site: Power Division / SREDA: Net Metering Guidelines 2025, English; BPPA: current Public Procurement Rules; IDCOL: renewable-energy lending terms; IEC 62548-1: PV array design requirements.
Share your application, equipment requirements and procurement timeline. Our engineers can help clarify the configuration and scope for your enquiry.