Recently, the Tianjin floating PV scheduled maintenance project undertaken by our company has officially entered its final stage after nearly three months of overcoming various difficulties. In the early stages of the project, the company's Maintenance Division attached great importance to the scheduled maintenance work. A project team was established, and several special meetings were held for full discussion and rehearsal. Based on a comprehensive assessment of workload, resource allocation, and weather windows, the project team scientifically formulated an overall work plan. Self-Made "Vessels" Solve Problems, Everyone Becomes a "Designer" In the early stages of the project, the team originally planned to use conventional pontoon boats as the floating work platform. However, after on-site testing and simulation, two major problems were identified with this type of hull: first, the deck working area was limited, making it difficult to accommodate necessary construction equipment and multiple workers at the same time; second, after carrying the high-altitude scaffolding required for maintenance, the center of gravity of the boat rose significantly, making it prone to swaying in light winds or when personnel moved, posing a risk of capsizing. Faced with this immediate difficulty, the project team quickly activated its problem-response mechanism. The project leader promptly engaged in in-depth technical communication and risk assessment with the owner and resolutely chose to carry out an independent modification. They actively innovated, salvaging and dismantling old construction materials. Referring to the design principles of stable hulls, they redesigned and tested the arrangement, fixation, and splicing of old foam boards. Through hard work, they reorganized a pile of "scrap materials" into a structurally stable and reliably load-bearing floating foam platform. This initiative achieved remarkable results: the new platform was as stable as a rock, completely eliminating the risk of capsizing and providing a safety guarantee for high-altitude work; it solved the key equipment problem at nearly zero cost, achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement; the stable platform greatly increased the confidence of the workers, allowing them to move more freely and coordinate more smoothly, significantly increasing daily workload and laying the most solid foundation for the smooth progress of the project.
Ingenious Ideas Work Wonders, "Fishing Rod" Becomes Project "Accelerator" During the maintenance process, the project team discovered a far greater number of damaged U-shaped clips than anticipated. According to safety regulations, personnel are strictly prohibited from stepping directly on the PV panels to replace them. However, the damaged points were often located in the middle of the panel arrays. Attempting to replace them from below or the edge with bare hands was extremely laborious, tools were difficult to use, efficiency was low, and personnel working in awkward positions for long periods faced safety risks. Faced with this prominent bottleneck, the project team did not give in to difficulties or resort to reckless methods. Using readily available materials such as steel bars and thin wire, they created a prototype tool, similar to a fishing rod. The effect of this small invention, nicknamed the "fishing rod," was immediate. It increased efficiency by more than 70%. More importantly, it completely freed the workers from high-risk, low-efficiency working postures, achieving intrinsic safety. This small tool is not only a vivid manifestation of the team's outstanding problem-solving ability and innovative, hardworking spirit but also became a key weapon for ensuring the overall project schedule and overcoming the largest number of maintenance challenges.
Although the Tianjin floating PV scheduled maintenance project is only a small project with a three-month duration for the company, it reflects the high sense of responsibility, innovative methodology, and tenacious execution that the company always advocates among its employees. It is believed that with the efforts of all project team members, the Tianjin floating PV scheduled maintenance project will be brought to a successful conclusion.