We talk a lot about the misconceptions of 'fit and forget' and it is important to remember that just because there are limited amounts of moving parts on a solar array, that does not mean that you can ignore it for the next twenty years.
On systems larger than 50kWp we always advise our clients to fit a remote monitoring system. What are the benefits? We can break that down into two main categories - Performance and Fault Identification
Performance
Our monitoring system uses GIS data, overlayed with weather data to give highly accurate predictions of how your solar system should be performing. The system then compares that data to the actual figures of your array, and if for any reason it is not hitting those KPIs we will instantly be alerted. That could be a huge range of factors: shading, dirty panels or faults in the system not already identified.
Faults
Once we have onboarded the Solar PV system, we have access to highly detailed information on the inverters, strings, optimisers - right down to individual modules. This gives us a real time, 24/7 detailed overview of your system and how it is operating. Should a fault occur, we often see it long before anyone on site has noticed a problem.
From there we can investigate, notify you and send an engineer to site if necessary, keeping downtime to a minimum and ensuring the safety of the system and the people around it.
Data is key
We often speak to clients who have absolutely no idea what their system is doing - what is it generating? What are you exporting? How much of your solar generation are you consuming? How much carbon is it saving and most importantly: What does your ROI look like?
Monitoring is key: it gives you all the details in real time, 24/7. Our clients can log into our portal and see all this information and much, much more. We also send detailed monthly reports so you can build a picture of the numbers.
Armed with this information, we can help you make data led decisions on future investments.
If you would like to discuss the benefits of monitoring your solar system in more detail then please get in touch.