Solar Insight and Information
Essentials of an Effective Solar Operations and Maintenance Plan
The Basics to Keep Your Investment Productive
July 22, 2024
Solar energy installations in New Jersey and much of the Northeast have been increasing steadily over 15 to 20 years. These are significant investments. Business owners and homeowners expect to get the maximum performance from their purchase.
Solar panels and solar power management components are supported by warranties, which give system owners protection against defects and workmanship. However, this hardware may not always fail catastrophically. For example, there may be occasions where a system is generating good solar power, but only 80% of capability.
As well, defects are not the only cause of degraded performance.
EPC Solar LLC offers short- and long-term maintenance, monitoring, and repair services as a complement to our full solar design project management. Here are the essentials basics of an effective Solar Operations and Maintenance plan.
Continual Solar Performance Monitoring
Accurate measurement helps in setting up the baseline and in assessing the performance of a solar energy system. By keeping track of a few vital power production values over time, you can ensure your system is performing at its best, catch any issues early, and make informed decisions to improve efficiency
Periodic Solar Energy System Inspections
Physical inspections are often needed when following up on unexpected performance monitoring results. They also can detect issues before performance is affected. This includes checking for signs of corrosion or weathering, any cracks or splits in the solar panel surface, and any loose connections that may be present. Before this is done, panels should be cleaned for better visuals.
Other tasks may include:
Checking the breakers and fuses to make sure all are functioning correctly.
Inspecting the mounting structure of your solar panel system.
Inspecting the inverter for any signs of wear and tear on the components and ensuring the connections are secure.
Scheduled Preventative Maintenance
It is recommended that preventive maintenance be performed annually for the first five years, with two visits in Year 1. This is vital to assessing a system’s production and making the necessary changes for peak performance.
Addressing Discovered System Issues
The path to a maximize return on investment is to ensure your solar energy system is producing as much power as possible, always. Correcting detected issues fast means you will be offsetting as much purchased electricity as you are able and getting the most value out of your production credits.
If you aren’t sure if your solar energy system is working at peak, or if you are certain you have minor to severe performance issues, contact us for a free initial consultation.
