This is a serious warning for anyone who is about to, or has already installed rooftop PV systems without integrated access for maintenance.
Don’t do it.
There’s nothing cheap about PV (photovoltaic) with EESS (Electrical Energy Storage System) installation, we all know that. That’s why we make sure clients (not customers – we’ll explain the difference shortly) have and fully understand a full Financial Summary (payback report) before committing to take responsibility for their own energy resources.
Does your renewable energy generation plan include the essentials?
- PV, photovoltaic, solar panels contain cells made of silicon that absorb sunlight, creating a direct current (DC) electricity flow. Planned with optimum coverage and direction to optimise input.
- The correct inverter is used to convert DC electricity into alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses, or for feeding back into the grid.
- Your system includes appropriate EESS (Electrical Energy Storage System), a solar battery system, to store excess energy generated by solar panels for later use, balancing peaks and troughs (as night follows day!).
- The system has an appropriate, managed (or self-managed) Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) providing real-time data and analytics to maximise self-consumption of solar energy, optimise battery usage, reduce energy costs, and integrate with other devices like heat pumps and EV chargers to create more efficient and sustainable energy systems
- Installation includes appropriate, safe access for inspection and maintenance.
- And, includes an inspection, testing, and maintenance contract with a reputable supplier.
Efficiency
As with anything / everything: payback is profit – income net of costs. Costs to ensure safe continuity of energy generation and storage must include maintenance.
Let’s take a moment to consider the client / customer definition. If you have bought or are about to install renewable energy solutions without maintenance solutions – you are a customer … sold.
If your system includes build-in platform access to all levels for ongoing maintenance – you are a client … serviced.
Even if you do not have a maintenance plan included, but do have inspection and maintenance access, your supplier has covered all parameters with your continued safe energy supply in mind.
As long as we can access the system safely, we can inspect and maintain it properly.
PV renewable maintenance involves:
- scheduled inspections for damage and debris,
- regular cleaning of the modules,
- system performance checked and calibrated through a generation meter or online platforms,
- electrical components like inverters and wiring to be checked,
- and scheduling professional electrical tests.
… all crucial for long-term system health, safety, and energy output.
Foresight.
Avoid the costs of re-instating scaffolding each time maintenance is carried out by pre-installing safe access and anti-fall protection such as Mansafe.
A Mansafe system is a safety measure providing personal fall protection for engineers operating at height. It typically consists of horizontal or vertical stainless steel wire cables fixed to a structure, allowing a user to hook a harness to the cable, providing either fall arrest (to stop a fall in progress) or fall restraint (to prevent access to fall hazards).
As Day follows Night
PV generated energy output is as precise as day follows night, which as we all know is not such a precise science as we feel it ought to be.
To get the best results from your investment, you need to manage the system as you would any commercial asset …
Inspecting PV System Performance
- For consistent success of your solar systems, ensure regular monitoring and maintenance.
- Employ a registered and respected company to identify potential problems, before they become safety hazards.
- Make sure the installation has sufficient monitoring precautions to measure amperage, temperature, and other key performance indicators.
Ongoing Scheduled Maintenance Plans
- Having a JGF Renewables Maintenance Plan in place is essential for optimising the performance of your solar modules and system.
- It should at least include annual inspections, electrical testing and module cleaning, power and output measuring, and regular software updates.
Does your renewable energy generation plan include the essentials
- PV, photovoltaic, solar panels contain cells made of silicon that absorb sunlight, creating a direct current (DC) electricity flow. Planned with optimum coverage and direction to optimise input.
- The correct inverter is used to convert DC electricity into alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses, or for feeding back into the grid.
- Your system includes appropriate EESS (Electrical Energy Storage System), a solar battery system, to store excess energy generated by solar panels for later use, balancing peaks and troughs (as night follows day!).
- The system has an appropriate, managed (or self-managed) Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) providing real-time data and analytics to maximise self-consumption of solar energy, optimise battery usage, reduce energy costs, and integrate with other devices like heat pumps and EV chargers to create more efficient and sustainable energy systems
- Installation includes appropriate, safe access for inspection and maintenance.
- And, includes an inspection, testing, and maintenance contract with a reputable supplier.