Can good Maintainance practices extend my solar plant’s life beyond 25 years?
Solar installations have an expected lifespan of 25 years when built correctly. Although they may continue to perform well after the 25-year timeframe, proper structured maintenance and care are necessary for this to occur. In fact, if solar panel maintenance practices are conducted proactively and consistently, then the answer to the question of whether or not a solar plant can last longer than 25 years is that it can.
Solar Panel Maintenance and Life Extension
Among other things, solar plants experience natural degradation due to environmental conditions, such as dirt, temperature cycles, and wear and tear on components. As these factors take effect over time, the output of the facility will eventually decrease. However, most failures occur because of neglecting to inspect and repair systems, as well as providing substandard service.
The fact that solar projects are treated as long-term investments establishes a solid foundation whereby asset lifecycle management is critical for providing adequate care and maintenance throughout the asset lifecycle of solar projects. When asset lifecycle management practices are used to monitor the performance of solar plants, they allow operators to identify early warning signs of failure and can assist in preventing many forms of failure from occurring before they happen. It also provides the means for operators to optimise every component of a solar project, whether it be the module or the wiring, for maximum life expectancy.
Asset Lifecycle Management and Quality Maintenance Practices
High-quality solar panel maintenance practices, such as cleaning and testing, servicing inverters, and visual inspections, will all contribute to the overall efficiency and structural integrity of a solar project. The removal of dust and bird droppings from solar panels will increase the amount of sunlight that is absorbed. Electrical testing will ensure that solar panels provide a steady and reliable flow of energy, while visual inspections will ensure that solar racking and all associated fasteners remain securely in place.
A well-practised routine throughout the lifetime of the system provides a disciplined approach to maintaining stability within the system, as well as helping to promote an increased asset lifecycle of the system. By performing predictive maintenance on solar panels on a predetermined schedule, the rate at which solar panels degrade will be significantly reduced, and the overall return on investment (ROI) will remain strong through time.
Monitoring and Data Are Key to Asset Lifecycle Profit
Today’s solar plants are equipped with dashboards for real-time performance data such as voltage, temperature, and shading levels, allowing operators to schedule repairs that are targeted to specific issues through the information provided from the dashboard’s performance reports.
This information is essential for solar asset lifecycle management because there is an opportunity to fix issues before they escalate into larger concerns; predictive alerts also decrease solar power system downtime while increasing overall system reliability. The combination of monitoring and solar maintenance allows the owner to have an uninterrupted stream of production while continuing to protect the value of energy produced.
How Daily Operations and Preventive Maintenance Extend the Life of a Solar Power Plant
Preventive maintenance protects against expensive system failure by proactively addressing issues before they arise. As opposed to waiting until a problem occurs, operators of solar energy systems will be performing minor fixes on a continuous basis. Typical preventative actions include tightening cable connections, treating corrosion, and calibrating tracking systems. These actions reduce stress on the system, helping to maintain overall system integrity.
Over the span of the system lifecycle, preventative measures to maintain a system will be more effective at extending an asset lifecycle; therefore, the more an owner prioritises service on their solar systems, the fewer the number of failures, the greater the likelihood of reduced cost, and the longer the system performance.
How To Formulate A Strategy For The Operations, Repairs, And Spare Parts Of Your Solar Plant
Once the solar plant is in operation, all activities related to regular solar power plant O&M include regular cleaning, vegetation control, and inverter inspections. Spare parts, including connectors, fuses, and electronic cards, should always be kept on hand at the facility.
By having spare parts available at the time of need, an operator can minimise downtime by servicing an asset as quickly as possible. Therefore, developing a strategy for spare part replacement is also an important part of smart asset lifecycle management, as it creates alignment between cost and continuous operational performance.
How to Maximise a Solar Power Plant’s Long-Term Value With Long-Term Planning
To extend the period of operation of a solar power system, it is essential that a formalised strategy for the solar operations and maintenance of the system be defined early in the life of the system. The strategy will include service contracts, periodic maintenance schedules, and supporting documentation.
By investing in the planning of the operation and maintenance of the system over multiple decades, solar energy owners will ensure that the energy produced from their assets will be predictable and consistent over the entire asset lifecycle.
The value of regular reporting and analysis adds to the value of a solar power plant. By maintaining daily or monthly logs of how each individual year contributes to the overall health of a solar power system, the reliability and performance of solar systems for 25-plus years will be evident when the systems are properly maintained by following a long-term overall maintenance plan.
Conclusion
The foundation for a solar power plant’s strong, long-term history of performance is in the quality of system maintenance. Through the combination of conducting routine inspections of the system, performing preventative maintenance, and replacing components, the asset can continue producing energy well after the system’s design life.
A well-organised maintenance strategy for a solar power plant provides an owner with a higher level of reliability and performance compared to current installations; therefore, when the combination of predictive maintenance and long-term planning of solar energy systems is combined, the owner can maximise system performance for the next 25-plus years.
FAQs
1. Can I Operate My Solar Plant Longer Than 25 Years?
Yes! With routine inspections and service, component replacement and general maintenance and service required to maintain a solar plant, solar energy systems can operate well beyond their design life.
2. What Are The Most Important Maintenance Tasks For A Solar Plant?
Cleaning of panels, checks on inverters, electrical testing, structural inspections and vegetation control.
3. How Does Maintenance Help Me Save Money?
Proactive servicing through predictable maintenance reduces the chances of a failure, minimises the risk of a breakdown, and provides continued output of energy from the solar system.
4. Who Is Best Suited To Provide Solar Plant Maintenance?
Experienced, professional solar plant maintenance teams will safeguard the integrity of your solar plant’s structure and ensure proper operation of your solar system.
5. Does Planning Matter?
A well-organised system with documented records of scheduled maintenance and service history for a solar plant increases its asset lifecycle, enhances reliability and maximises the long-term value of a solar power plant.
