Comprehensive Maintenance Management: the foundation of photovoltaic efficiency

Solar energy is experiencing a moment of splendor, driven by international commitments to sustainable development, as well as a regulatory framework that encourages and supports renewable energies. Thus, the solar energy sector is one of the most productive in the current landscape, and its use, both thermal and photovoltaic, is growing exponentially.

However, it is important to note that photovoltaic solar installations are constantly exposed to external agents and temperature changes that affect both the panels and the electrical connections that integrate them. Therefore, it is essential to carry out continuous monitoring and tracking, as well as recurring predictive and corrective maintenance with the shortest possible response times to improve and extend both the lifespan and performance of the installations.

EDF Fenice, as a Global Energy Partner, handles the operation, maintenance, and supervision of its clients’ photovoltaic installations, reducing the number of breakdowns through periodic inspections. In this way, and thanks to comprehensive maintenance management and the use of one of the best monitoring systems on the market, which allows correcting any anomalies and making improvements to the installation, we maximize the performance of photovoltaic installations.

Annually, in our clients’ Photovoltaic Self-Consumption installations, we carry out a main predictive maintenance task based on measuring Isc-Voc curves, the relationship between the short-circuit current (Isc) and the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of all the module strings that make up the installation. With this, we can determine the degradation suffered by each group of panels relative to the values provided by the module manufacturer. Through these measurements and subsequent monitoring, we can know if the modules show degradation and take the necessary measures so that our clients’ production is minimally affected.

These checks, along with low-voltage panel inspections, insulation measurements, inverter inspections, drone thermography of modules, module cleaning, among others, generally constitute a summary of the maintenance of this type of installation.

At EDF Fenice, we have a specialized O&M team dedicated to our current and potential photovoltaic self-consumption clients, focusing on each installation and maintenance to improve and extend the lifespan and performance of photovoltaic solutions.