The maintenance of photovoltaic installations is key to guaranteeing their correct operation, safety and durability. That is why it is so important to check the electrical components at regular intervals. In addition, it is not only a question of optimising energy production, but also of complying with environmental protection regulations. Let’s get to know the types of maintenance and safety measures to avoid unnecessary risks.
The importance of maintenance for photovoltaic systems
Although one of the advantages of photovoltaic installations is that they require less care for correct operation, it is necessary to ensure their maintenance in order to improve their efficiency. Regardless of whether the system is off-grid or grid-connected, it is important to ensure that external conditions do not adversely affect the equipment.
The frequency of this maintenance varies depending on the installation and the environment in which it is located. In order to determine the frequency and to carry out professional work, it is best to call in experts. These professionals will analyse how these structures are in order to identify possible faults. Here is some information about the time stipulated for these checks.
- Solar panels should be checked at least once a year.
- The voltage drop should also be checked at least once a year.
- The earthing should be carried out every two years.
- The internal installation and switchboard should be checked and maintained at least every five years.
A timely check to detect and repair faults prevents major problems and unnecessary expenses. In addition, these regular inspections and preventive care reduce the costs of repairs and complete replacement. Hence the importance of this work and the responsibility of the owners of these systems.
Types of maintenance on solar panels
To ensure the functionality of a solar power system, it is important to be aware of the types of maintenance. Although it is not very common for regular failures to occur in these systems, especially if they are of good quality, inclement weather could damage its elements, so they should be replaced for proper optimisation.
Preventive maintenance of solar panels
These tasks include preventive maintenance of the solar cells, which consists of a visual analysis to check if there are any damaged parts in the structure, such as inverters, batteries or any other component exposed to the weather.
In some cases, there are agreements that include this service and its guarantee for one or two years. A good cleaning to remove dirt, dust or bird droppings is a very useful and necessary measure.
Corrective maintenance of solar panels
Corrective maintenance consists of repairing localised damage during these preventive tasks. In general, it consists of a pre-planned and pre-designed plan to restore the operability of the system.
Temperature changes and the effect of wind or snow can affect the anchoring of the roofs or generate cracks. Only with a proper plan carried out by professionals can this degradation be avoided and improve performance by 30 to 40 %.
Safety measures to avoid risks in a photovoltaic installation
Now that we know the types of maintenance and their importance, let’s look at some autonomous solutions to ensure safety. More and more companies are opting for video monitoring of industrial processes, as it increases the chances of improving and intervening in case of incidents.
The advantages of using some of these tracking and monitoring systems raise the level of protection in the industrial or logistics environment. In addition to monitoring hazardous areas, it avoids dangers to people’s physical integrity. It also improves protection against theft if extra functionalities are used, such as facial recognition or motion detection, among other options.
The use of video camera systems and surveillance technologies serve to monitor and control processes within industrial environments. It is an effective visual tool for detecting potential problem incidents. Among the different options, you can opt for one of Microsegur’s security systems, such as e-Guard and TURKANA’s CRA.
e-Guard security systems
This is the perfect alternative for surveillance with thermal cameras for solar plants, large surfaces, construction sites or any outdoor event. Its objective is the control of projects during their execution phase and represents a cost saving of 25 %. This autonomous communication system, with remote configuration, supports the monitoring and monitoring of the project.
TURKANA security systems
This advanced security software platform designed by Microsegur is an innovation in industrial and photovoltaic security. It is the world’s first verification service specialised in perimeter protection systems for photovoltaic and industrial plants. This CRA verifies and filters the signals coming from the installations through artificial intelligence.
In conclusion, the maintenance of solar installations is minimal, especially if they are tilted, as rain will wash away any traces of dirt. Although this does not exempt from a good care and revision with certain periodicity to avoid possible risks, do not hesitate to contact us to know some of our autonomous security systems for the surveillance of these photovoltaic plants. Our professionals will provide personalised advice and the best solution according to the needs of each project.
