Since photovoltaic (PV) panels have no moving parts, manufacturers can confidently supply their modules with 25 years of warranty protection. If a solar panel is found to have a defect or malfunction during this period, the solar system owner is eligible for a free replacement (assuming the original manufacturer is still in business).
However, during those 25 years, many other problems can arise – some of which not are covered under warranty. This explains why many renewable energy manufacturers invest in solar operations and maintenance to keep their PV systems in optimal condition.
In this article, we take a look at why solar PV operations and maintenance is so important and how much customers can pay to have their solar PV systems serviced regularly.
Maintenance requirements for photovoltaic panels.
Although photovoltaics are one of the most resilient power generation technologies on the market, something as simple as dust buildup can negatively affect panel performance. This is certainly true for a standard home installation, and excessive dust buildup often results in noticeable drops in production – which in turn leads to a loss of solar energy savings. These losses are compounded as the size of the photovoltaic system increases. This is why utility-scale photovoltaic farms invest in daily cleaning to maximize energy production across the facility.
However, panel cleaning is only one aspect of maintenance. For most photovoltaic systems, this is the lowest hanging fruit. More advanced maintenance includes activities such as:
- System inspections
- Recalibration
- Repositioning of photovoltaic panels
- Maintenance of the inverter
- Reconnecting to the grid
In addition, photovoltaic systems are becoming more sophisticated, and many newer installations include battery storage and electric vehicle charging – both of which can increase the service requirements of a photovoltaic system.
Reactive vs. preventive maintenance of photovoltaic systems.
Sometimes emergency system maintenance is required to correct sudden drops in solar output. Such reactive approach usually requires that system owners regularly check utility bill statements – or that the PV systems themselves are equipped with built-in solar monitoring that alerts owners to deviations in energy production.
In other cases, servicing is done on an ongoing basis as part of general maintenance. This strategy qualifies as preventive photovoltaic maintenance – similar to annual car inspections or annual medical checkups. During such visits, photovoltaic maintenance technicians check systems, reconfigure any loose wires or panels and optimize installations for maximum solar output. More serious problems – such as cracked panels or faulty inverters – can also be addressed during these visits.
Many residential solar customers are reactive, treating their PV systems as “set it and forget it” technology. They intervene only when solar production drops significantly. Many smaller companies are also taking this approach, as it is usually cheaper and easier than paying for scheduled PV maintenance.
However, as the size of a photovoltaic installation increases, it becomes easier to justify the ongoing cost of preventive maintenance for solar panels. While dust on 20 panels can translate into $30 in lost savings, the same dust on an entire PV farm can mean tens of thousands of dollars in lost savings.
And again – that’s just dust.
When you add in all the other components, wires, nuts and bolts that can potentially fail at any time, operating and maintaining photovoltaic panels can be a worthwhile investment with tangible results.
But how much can owners of photovoltaic systems pay for regular maintenance?
Monitoring and maintenance systems for photovoltaic systems.
Effective monitoring systems are the underappreciated heroes of solar power operations and maintenance, ensuring that installations perform at their best throughout their lifetime. These systems provide real-time data on energy production, system status and the performance of individual components such as inverters and solar panels. By offering detailed insight into the operational status of a solar power system, monitoring platforms enable operators to quickly detect and resolve problems, minimizing downtime and maximizing energy production. This proactive approach to solar system operation and maintenance increases the reliability and efficiency of the solar system and extends its life.
In addition to tracking daily operations, monitoring systems are crucial for predictive maintenance of solar panels. They analyze performance trends and identify potential problems before they become major issues.
This means that PV maintenance teams can proactively plan operations, avoiding unexpected failures and costly repairs. And the best part? Advanced monitoring solutions often include remote troubleshooting, so technicians can diagnose and resolve problems without having to go on site.
When is maintenance needed on photovoltaic panels?
Maintenance occurs on an ongoing basis for customers who adopt a preventive maintenance strategy, with most home and business owners choosing an annual schedule. However, cleaning and inspection may need to be done more frequently, depending on local conditions. For example, pollen, dust, leaves and snow are seasonal factors that can affect the performance of a photovoltaic system.
Daily or weekly servicing is normal for industrial-scale photovoltaic farms. This frequency does not mean that every single component is serviced every day (unless bird droppings are a serious problem). But the facility as a whole undergoes daily or weekly maintenance to help optimize solar energy production across the photovoltaic farm.
Customers who choose a reactive maintenance strategy for PV panels need only intervene when they detect a problem due to:
- Solar monitoring, which alerts them to deviations in the output of the photovoltaic system. Such monitoring solutions are available both at the individual customer level and on an enterprise-wide basis.
- There is a noticeable increase in utility bill expenses. However, this requires a great deal of vigilance on the part of the photovoltaic system owner, as he must regularly check his statements. Using a “by eye” approach also makes it difficult to account for seasonal fluctuations in energy production. Photovoltaic system owners may be better off comparing statements on a year-to-year basis rather than month-to-month.
- Visible damage to the solar panel system. This includes slipped panels, loose wires and even modules cracked by falling debris such as tree branches or hail. Even if this damage does not translate immediately into a loss of solar energy savings, minor problems can quickly escalate into larger and more expensive ones if not repaired early.
How often do solar panels need maintenance?
Solar panels generally require minimal maintenance, often limited to periodic cleaning to ensure optimal performance. The frequency of maintenance can vary depending on factors such as location, climate and environmental conditions. On average, an annual inspection and cleaning is recommended, which can be done by the homeowner or by hiring a solar panel professional.
Can homeowners clean photovoltaic panels themselves?
Yes, homeowners can clean their solar panels themselves using water, a soft brush and mild soap, if necessary. However, it is important to follow proper precautions and read the manufacturer’s guidelines. An alternative is to hire a professional solar panel cleaning company.
When cleaning solar panels, it is important to avoid using abrasives, pressure washers or aggressive chemicals, as these can damage the surface of the panels. Similarly, it is best to avoid walking on the panels to prevent any physical damage.
What are the maintenance options for photovoltaic panels?
Customers who need emergency or preventive maintenance for a solar system have two main options:
Solar service and maintenance companies
As the photovoltaic industry matures, more and more companies are specializing exclusively in the operation and maintenance of solar systems. In fact, many PV installers subcontract their own projects to such companies. If you do this as well, you should be able to recommend reputable service companies to your customers. However, it is important that you explain the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
Dedicated solar service and maintenance companies, for example, typically have the resources to handle much larger jobs – along with the tools, supplies and staff required to work 24/7. And because they are specialists in solar service and maintenance, they are better equipped to handle more complex projects – often faster than their installer colleagues.
For the homeowner who just wants regular service, paying for annual inspections and cleaning of the solar system makes sense. Hiring a dedicated full-time photovoltaic system service and maintenance company, however, is probably overkill for most home systems. This option is best reserved for larger commercial or industrial-scale PV installations. Even then, the cost of ongoing maintenance must be carefully balanced against the potential increase in solar energy production.
Ongoing operation and maintenance of photovoltaic installations is critical.
Many solar customers are initially surprised to discover that their photovoltaic systems require regular maintenance. This is because the technology is often advertised as extremely resilient and trouble-free.
While the maintenance requirements for photovoltaic systems are indeed low, they are not zero. Problems can and will arise over the 25+ year warranty period of photovoltaic panels – not to mention the myriad other components that make up a solar system. And failure to repair these problems as they arise will inevitably lead to lost financial and environmental savings.
Emergency maintenance can help recoup those savings in the short term. Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, can help protect them in the long term.