07 Jul 2020

Get an overview of the issues that a PV plant may come across regularly, and how to avoid them in order to improve the quality of your solar installations. Download our paper to find out more

The basic principle of how a PV plant operates has remained the same: several solar modules are connected in series to form a string, all of which can produce 700V to 1500V DC. Numerous strings are then connected to a combiner cabinet, and from there, cables carry the DC voltage to a substation. In the substation, an inverter outputs DC to AC voltage, which then passes through a step-up transformer. At the end, it goes through a network of high voltage switchgear to the national grid.

The technology used in PV plants has significantly improved over the years: solar module peak power has increased substantially, inverter stations have become more efficient and resilient to external influences, communication systems allow us to monitor the plants remotely and detect issues faster. All these improvements can contribute to the reduction of maintenance time and costs however this is not always the case. As the solar energy market grows, and particularly during boom periods, contractors build plants to tight schedules and may be tempted to take shortcuts to meet schedules and minimize costs.

This may result in technical issues and risks. If problems are not detected early during the construction of the plant, or at least within the two-year acceptance period, they can affect future performance and long-term operation. A project owner/developer will need the professional view of a technical advisor to check the overall quality of the plant. This will include a detailed review of components used on site, future yield estimations and site visits during and after construction. From the owner’s perspective, it is crucial for the technical advisor to identify any major issues prior to the acceptance period commencing, or at the latest, before the acceptance period is complete.

This paper provides an overview of the issues that a solar PV plant may come across regularly - why they occur, and how to avoid them – to help owners, developers and contractors improve the quality of their solar installations.

Furthermore, if you would like to discuss any of the findings highlighted in the paper, or would like assistance at any stage of your project, from construction and acceptance period site visits, detailed End of Warranty inspections, thermography, string and IV curve testing, please get in touch.