The 3 Most Common Mistakes in Photovoltaic System Maintenance

To optimize the performance of photovoltaic systems, it's essential to focus on the most common problems, errors that affect system efficiency. Here are the TOP 3:

1. Lack of Regular Cleaning

This is the most common factor leading to performance loss in solar systems. The accumulation of dust or other substances on solar panels prevents the collectors from capturing all the available solar resourceb i.e., solar irradiance (W/m²), and therefore results in electricity production below their potential.Studies show that just 5 grams of dirt per square meter can reduce energy production by up to 40%.

The solution is simple: schedule a regular cleaning plan for the photovoltaic panels, using low-pressure water or microfiber cloths.

2. Lack of Inspections and Preventive Maintenance

A common mistake is focusing only on fixing problems after they occur, instead of adopting a preventive maintenance approach. This reactive strategy can lead to unexpected failures, production downtimes, and higher repair costs.

To avoid this, it's essential to carry out regular inspections of all photovoltaic system components, including panels, inverters, wiring, and support structures. This helps detect and address potential issues early on, such as loose connections, material wear, or insulation failures. Additionally, it's important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and establish a periodic maintenance plan.

3. Lack of Monitoring and Data Analysis

In many companies in the sector, Operations and Maintenance teams lack monitoring and data analysis systems that would allow them to detect problems and optimize the performance of their photovoltaic systems based on informed, data-driven decisions.

Therefore, it is very important to implement remote monitoring solutions that collect data on energy production, panel efficiency, and environmental conditions whenever possible.

Grid-connected photovoltaic systems typically come with built-in “dataloggers” connected to the solar inverter. These measure key signals related to production and equipment health, and, if connected to the internet, send the data to the manufacturer’s default web portal.

There are also independent solutions like Sentinel Solar, a stand-alone software that is compatible with data collection from major inverter manufacturers. In this case, it’s possible to acquire and centralize data from various manufacturers and perform advanced analysis.