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Closing the Performance Gap: Why Digital Asset Management is Mission-Critical for Solar

Published in: Solar, Digital Blog

Closing the Performance Gap: Why Digital Asset Management is Mission-Critical for Solar image

As solar and energy storage projects scale in size and complexity, their financial performance has become as critical as their sustainability benefits. Yet, a major challenge persists: research from kWh Analytics shows that US solar installations consistently underperform by 7% to 13%. This performance gap represents a significant financial concern, as even small inefficiencies can translate into substantial losses over an asset's lifetime.

While external factors like weather contribute, a major factor remains within the control of asset owners and operators: their approach to operations and maintenance (O&M). Traditional, reactive methods are proving inadequate for modern energy portfolios. The industry is at an inflection point where digital transformation is no longer optional but essential to ensure assets deliver optimal returns.

From Reactive to Predictive: The Rise of the Digital Ecosystem

The days of relying on spreadsheets, fragmented software, and siloed decision making are fading. A new generation of digital tools is enabling a data driven approach to asset performance. At the heart of this transformation are two key components:

  • Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, which provide real-time monitoring and control of assets.
  • Asset Performance Management (APM) solutions, which use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics to transform the vast amounts of data collected by SCADA into actionable intelligence.

Unlike traditional systems that only flag issues after they have occurred, APM enables asset managers to identify potential problems before they lead to costly downtime.

Why APM is a Competitive Necessity

APM has emerged as the cornerstone of modern asset management, shifting operations from reactive to proactive and, ultimately, predictive. The benefits are significant and multi faceted.

  • Maximize Performance: By identifying inefficiencies in real time and analyzing historical trends, APM enables operators to optimize energy production. Integrating digital twins virtual replicas of physical assets allows for advanced simulations that can reveal further performance improvements.
  • Predict and Prevent Failures: APM enables a shift from inefficient, fixed schedule maintenance to condition based maintenance, where servicing is performed precisely when and where it is needed. Market research indicates that predictive maintenance can reduce unexpected downtime by up to 50%.
  • Drive Smarter, Data-Informed Decisions: By consolidating real time and historical data into a centralized platform, APM provides asset owners with a comprehensive view of system health, performance trends, and financial metrics. This allows for more accurate forecasting and better resource allocation.
  • Streamline Regulatory Compliance: With stringent grid codes and environmental regulations, APM simplifies compliance by automating data collection, monitoring regulatory thresholds, and generating reports that meet industry standards.

The Unseen Foundation: The Critical Role of High-Quality Data

For APM to deliver meaningful insights, it must be powered by accurate, high quality data. Poor data can lead to false alarms, incorrect diagnostics, and suboptimal decision making. Platforms like Prediktor PowerView™ address this challenge by implementing rigorous data validation processes, including consistency checks, outlier detection, and intelligent data reconstruction techniques that fill in missing values. By standardizing and integrating diverse datasets, these platforms provide a reliable foundation for predictive analytics.

The Future of Asset Management is Autonomous

As solar and storage portfolios expand, the role of APM will only become more critical. The technology is evolving from a tool for fault detection into a comprehensive platform for autonomous asset management. The rise of self learning algorithms, which continuously refine their models based on new data, is paving the way for autonomous maintenance, where digital platforms not only identify issues but also recommend and even execute corrective actions. Furthermore, the integration of APM with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is a key trend, playing a vital role in optimizing charge discharge cycles, managing degradation, and maximizing revenue opportunities.

Digital integration is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. Companies that embrace data driven decision making through a robust APM platform will not only achieve superior financial performance but also strengthen their resilience in an increasingly complex and competitive market.

Learn more about TGS's digital solutions for solar and storage: https://www.tgs.com/solar

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