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Beam Solar
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Beam - Solar Projects Software

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Implement your solar project with confidence. Analysis platform and marketplace to Assess, Procure and Manage your project. Backed by a Team of Solar Engineers.
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What is a Beam Solar Assessment?
When you run an Assessment on the Beam Solar Platform we use a combination of electricity data from your energy retailer, local weather-station data and satellite imagery to simulate hundreds of solar and battery combinations on an hourly basis for a year.

Our simulations calculates the capital cost, annual savings, emissions reduction and ongoing financial return from each combination, enabling us to find the optimal renewable energy system for your site.

Parameter #1: How much solar could we fit at your site?
One of the first questions we need to answer is how many solar panels we can physically fit on your site and how they could be mounted. It often makes the most economical and environmental sense to build rooftop solar in Australia. However there are many sites without a usable or large enough roof space so the panels will need to be mounted on purpose-built racking. We might also want to maximise your output by tracking the sun or even build carpark or floating solar.

We build a dataset of potential solar configurations that looks something like this:

We automate the process wherever possible, using large datasets of buildings and addresses combined with estimation algorithms, or one of our solar engineers maps the site by hand.

Parameter #2: How much power does your site need?
While it sometimes makes financial sense to build the largest solar and battery system possible, often we want to match power generation with power consumption. We collect half-hourly electricity data from your energy retailer (shown in blue) combined with our solar generation estimates (shown in orange), giving us a complete picture of electricity inputs and outputs to your site.
Parameter #3: How much will your project cost?
The Beam Solar Platform is not only used for assessing the viability of renewable energy systems but it is also a marketplace and procurement system. The best suppliers in the industry, rigorously vetted by us, submit offers through our platform, giving us a unique window into price movements in the industry. With this combination of public and private pricing data, we are able to make an accurate price estimation for each potential solar system.
 
Parameter #4: How much power will the panels generate?
A key part of determining the optimum size and mounting of your solar arrays is an estimation of their power generation over the course of a year. We use hourly solar irradiance data from nearby weather stations to predict the generation of each panel configuration, taking into account factors such as the size of the panels, the panel type and their orientation to the sun.
Parameter #5: How much does your electricity cost from the grid?
Electricity costs vary significantly from place to place in Australia, depending on the source of power, distance it needs to travel, economies of scale and many other factors. We use the most recent bill from your site`s energy retailer combined with estimates of future rates to build an electricity cost profile like the one below:
Putting it all together
We combine all of the available information for your site, as well as our predictions, estimations and calculations, into an assessment report. You can also explore the data from the Beam Solar Platform and even drill down to see what any of our suggested systems will do on any hour of the year.

An objective comparison of offers from pre-qualified Solar Retailers

Our platform and highly competitive process are superior to in-house procurement processes and ad-hoc quote comparisons

Procurement Value
Our procurement process drives value through: Stringent minimum requirements to make an apples vs apples comparison, All of the best Solar Retailers in Australia competing for your project, <1% average price variations after contract execution.

Superior solution + contract
Our process ensures you get more for your money: Long installation warranty, defect liability clauses, performance guarantees, Stringent inclusion and exclusion requirements, Solar Analytics monitoring and savings verification included

Supplier Pre-qualification
All suppliers on Beam Solar are pre-qualified: 5 year minimum operation and financials to register on Beam Solar, Current insurances, accreditations and licenses maintained for eligibility, Supplier scoring informed by solar audits and customer feedback

The Procure Process

Our platform and highly competitive process are superior to in-house procurement processes and ad-hoc quote comparisons. Choosing Beam Solar`s expertise and tools means you get access to a combined three decades of industry expertise and a commitment to quality that will pay off many times over. Keep reading to see the critical steps of our process and why we have structured Procure this way. 

Solar Retailer Pre-qualification

Before your project commences the Procurement process, we have done all the hard work pre-qualifying Solar Retailers to participate on the Beam Solar platform. 

Solar Retailer Registration

To ensure projects are implemented to a high standard and will remain supported during the warranty period, we have pre-qualified all Suppliers on Beam Solar. To register on the platform Suppliers must have and keep up to date the following:

  • Minimum 5-years of operation in commercial solar
  • Clean Energy Council (CEC) Solar Retailer and Installer accreditation
  • Three customer references of commercial solar projects
  • Current financials and credit score from Equifax
  • Current insurances with an appropriate level of cover
Solar Retailer Score
In addition to these minimum requirements, Suppliers are scored on a continuous basis so they can be ranked for you during the procurement process. Supplier Scoring is informed by seven key attributes:
  1. Credit Score - annual credit score independently assessed by Equifax
  2. Solar Audit Score - Each project that is implemented by a Supplier on the Beam Solar platform is audited and scored by our solar engineers. The average of a supplier`s solar audit scores informs their total score.
  3. Customer Feedback Score - Each project that is implemented by a Supplier on the Beam Solar platform is scored based on our customer survey.
  4. Management System Certification - Suppliers will score additional points for certification under AS and ISO Safety Management Certification, Quality Management Certification and Environmental Management Certification.
  5. Contract Score - Supplier`s standard Capex and PPA contract terms and conditions, and our experience negotiating on behalf of customers with the supplier are incorporated into a Contract Score.
  6. Volume Score - Supplier`s are scored based on the quantity of MW they have installed over the last two full years.
  7. Experience Score - Suppliers are scored based on when their first commercial scale project was installed.
Initial Offers

For all projects small and large we start with Initial offers. We request Initial Offers for your project from Pre-qualified Solar Retailers through the Beam Solar platform. This ensures all Solar Retailers are providing competitive pricing and a quality solution on what you want.

Minimum Requirements

We have developed a 22 page Supplier Conditions for Participation that all offers must comply with. These conditions are in addition to Australian Standards and Clean Energy Council Standards and continue to be developed as standards and technology evolve. When Suppliers submit an offer through Beam Solar it must comply with all Minimum Conditions of Participation. This allows us to align all offers so a meaningful comparison can be made and any surprises avoided during contracting.

Project brief

As each project is unique, we provide a comprehensive project brief to suppliers outlining all key details about your project. All information from the Assessment is available for Suppliers, including the proposed layout, connection points, electricity interval data and energy prices. We collate the site schedules, diagrams and photographs for inclusion in the Project Brief. Any additional requirements that you have can be quickly and easily add to the Project Brief and attachments.

Initial Offer Selection

Solar Retailers provide competitive pricing and a quality solution through the Beam Solar platform. For each Initial Offer we calculate the equipment and warranty scores, supplier score and calculate the annual cost savings from that offer. Initial Offers provides an objective comparison of offers so you can proceed to the next step with confidence. 

Final Offers

For larger projects, we can carry out a second round of procurement. Three to four Suppliers will be shortlisted for the Final Offers round with the aim of selecting one Supplier for contract execution. The Final Offers round can either be a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Weighted Reverse Auction (Auction). We manage the Final Offers process throughout the following stages.

Project Brief and Scoring

The project Brief will be updated with new information, which may include structural and electrical assessments, plus additional information from the site. We have developed a detailed question set and scoring for commercial solar projects in Australia that Suppliers respond to in the Final Offers round. Question weighting can be adjusted upon request and this will inform the Suppliers` non-price score in both an RFP and Auction project.

Site Inspection

We coordinate and attend site inspections by Suppliers at the target site(s). This can be done as a single site visit with all shortlisted suppliers attending or with suppliers attending individually. We will work with your site contact to coordinate a suitable time(s) and ensure inductions and PPE requirements are met by all attendees. The site inspection will typically involve inspection of roof areas, distribution boards, connection points, potential inverter locations, potential cable runs, site access and lifting locations and potential site storage. Our solar experts will answer any project specific questions and we`ll rely on your site contact for site specific questions.

Final Offers Selection 
We will manage Supplier questions and responses during the Final Offers period (typically 2-3 weeks). We will provide regular meetings and updates with you to manage Supplier responses and questions, and unexpected changes in scope as the project progresses.

Suppliers will submit their Final Offers through the Beam Solar platform and these will be scored by Beam Solar according the questionnaire scoring and weighting. We will work with Suppliers to clarify any points that are unclear and will be continually optimising for reduced price and increased quality in negotiations with Suppliers.
 
We will provide financial analysis of Final Offers based on offered pricing and contract terms. We will provide assistance with selecting a supplier to contract with, including back-and-forth clarifications and meetings with you as part of the decision-making process.

Weighted Reverse Auction (optional)

For Auction projects, the non-price score for each Supplier and will inform the `weighted` component of the weighted reverse auction. Supplier`s then continually bid on price to improve their rank and attempt to win the auction.

Contract Execution
Once a supplier or multiple suppliers have been selected in the Final Offers round, we will assist you with contract execution. A large amount of alignment in contract terms has been achieved in the process to date with the Supplier Conditions of Participation and the Final Offers Questionnaire and scoring, however there is often work involved in finalising a contract acceptable to both parties. We assist with the following tasks and provide general support during the contract execution process:
  • We will request a final contract from the successful Solar Retailer incorporating the terms and conditions agreed in the tender process
  • We will review the major commercial terms and propose amendments to align with the tender requirements if they do not align.
  • We will assist your legal term to interpret the more technical contract terms specific to the solar industry.
  • We will provide feedback on acceptability of contract terms proposed by the Solar Retailer
  • We will facilitate final contract execution between the Solar Retailer and you based on terms and conditions agreed in the RFP process.
We are on your side during these negotiations to ensure your interests are reflected in the contract with the successful supplier.

Ensure your system is installed and operated to a high standard
We will provide assistance throughout your entire solar journey, which doesn`t stop at contract execution. Beam Solar can help Manage your system through delivery and ongoing operation.

Quality Assurance
With project oversite, contract management, and owner`s engineering services, you can have faith that your system will be delivered to a high standard. Through a post-install audit, we will flag any defects or issues with the install and arrange for them to be rectified with the installer.

Ongoing Maintenance
Depending on your business needs, we can develop a bespoke O&M contract to ensure your system continues to perform as expected throughout its lifetime. Regular monitoring, performance reporting and periodic inspections will help guarantee that any issues are rectified as soon as they occur.

Savings Verification
Using real-time consumption and generation data from your system and your current electricity rates, we will verify exactly how much your system is saving you each month. We make it easy to know how quickly your system pays itself off and when it might be time for an upgrade.

Beam Solar Manage
By providing one central platform for everything related to your existing and ongoing solar projects, we provide ease and simplicity unmatched by other solar management services. A commitment to your system means we will ensure it continues to perform well for its lifetime and that this is clearly shown to you.

All relevant project documentation, any issues identified during or after install, service works scheduled and completed, periodic performance reports and monthly savings figures all at your finger tips in the Manage page of Beam Solar.

Choosing Beam Solar`s expertise and tools means you get access to a combined three decades of industry expertise and a commitment to quality that will pay off many times over. Keep reading to see the critical steps of our process and why we have structured Manage this way.

1. Review Contract
Scope of works
Project timeline
Payment milestones
Liquidated Damages

2. Manage Project
Engineering design review
Onsite QA inspections
Customer-side project management
Commissioning review

3. Audit System
Post-install inspection
Defect register
Issue rectification
System quality rating

4. Monitor & Maintain
Real-time performance data
Issue identification and flags
Service inspections and repairs
Panel cleaning

5. Measure & Verify
Monthly electricity savings
Regular performance reports
Detailed system insights
Assessment of possible upgrades