In today’s current scenario, industrial and commercial establishments are resorting to solar arrays and industrial PV systems in order to bypass power outage problems associated with grid supply. Be it in the paper, steel, chemical, textile, cement, dairy or the ceramic industry, solar power panels are fast becoming a norm rather than an option in India. This has been given a boost by the presence of open access grids in most states, nationwide.
Most solar panel operation and maintenance (O&M) processes require periodic checks for ensuring optimal performance and security. The frequency and degree of solar array monitoring and solar panel maintenance are reliant on the installation type, system configuration and location of the commercial solar power system in use.
Yearly inspections are recommended by companies providing solar maintenance in India. Apart from inspecting PV systems regularly, it is also important to carry out inspections when their ownership changes.
Solar PV systems’ maintenance processes are best carried out by qualified installers or service technicians who are conversant with PV components and their safety procedures. These providers of solar panel maintenance services take care of the full range of PV maintenance processes that include:
- Carrying out visual inspections
- Conducting verifications of the PV system operations
- Taking corrective actions
- Monitoring and verifying how effective the corrective actions are., etc,.
- Processes involved in the maintenance of solar power systems
- Popular packages encompass processes involved in the maintenance of solar panels and solar power plants; such as:
- The timely and regular cleaning of solar cells and PV panels
- Servicing of HT side equipment on an annual basis
- Diagnosis and tests pertaining to low solar power production
- Testing and upkeep of circuits
- Tracing of IV curves and thermal imaging
- Measure of earth value
- Retro-commissioning
- Management of warranties
- System checks pertaining to data acquisition etc.,
As far as Solar PV System's uptime management is concerned, the companies involved in solar panel operation and maintenance offer:
- Data interpretation and collection of data in real time
- Monitoring of energy production on a consistent basis
- Critical as well as non-critical repairs
- Analysis of trends and KPIs in order to ensure continuous improvement
- Selection of specific key performance indicators to minimize cost while delivering the best possible system performance in the face of varying conditions
- Management of inventory, spare parts, etc.
- The tracking of solar power generation logs and updating document service histories
- Optimization of balance between yield, cash flows and costs of scheduled maintenance, etc.
- Remote or on-site sensing of the various environmental conditions impacting the PV system being maintained
- Assessment of components and inverters to ascertain whether they have to be repaired or restored
- Identification of safety issues, etc.
Companies taking up the responsibility of monitoring the operations and managing solar rooftop upkeep provide 24/7 customer support via their network operations centre. They offer in-depth business insights in the form of value-added services to their corporate customers and industry-based clients.