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Electrical issues in PV systems

Published in: Solar, Digital Blog

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Addressing Electrical Faults in Solar PV Systems

As the solar industry undergoes exponential growth, technical fieldwork is increasingly challenged by a growing number of PV installations and a stagnant technician workforce. Emazys, led by founder Anders Rand, is pioneering new methods and perspectives to manage the evolving complexities in PV operations and maintenance (O&M).

Why Electrical Faults Matter The rapid expansion of solar capacity is creating a mismatch with O&M resources, leading to increased risks and system inefficiencies. Key challenges include:

  • Shortage of skilled PV technicians, straining field resources and raising O&M costs.
  • Surge in faulty installations due to thinner resource allocation.
  • Escalating share of O&M in the total cost of ownership as component prices fall.

Technical Complexity and Root Causes Field observations reveal a high rate of electro-technical diversity and complexity, driven by:

  • Increased failure rates in aging PV systems lacking real-time diagnostics.
  • High reliance on expert technicians to resolve issues that standard tests miss.
  • Curve tracing and traditional testing being insufficient for pinpointing fault locations.

System-Level Failures and Diagnostics Emazys highlights major contributors to system failures, including:

  • Unmated Connectors: Often the root cause of voltage drops and overheating due to increased resistance and electrical arcs.
  • Bypass Diode Failures: Resulting in hotspots and potential fires when shaded cells are forced to carry current.
  • Ground Faults and Isolation Issues: Difficult to detect and often misidentified due to limitations of conventional Riso tests.

Technology-Driven Risk Mitigation Emazys emphasizes the need for better testing methods and system designs, advocating for:

  • Avoidance of overcomplicated setups with excess module-level electronics (e.g., MLPEs), which introduce new risks.
  • Simplified system architecture focusing on connector quality, wiring discipline, and preventive diagnostics.
  • Early-warning systems using non-biased workflow data to predict and mitigate failures.

The Future of Solar PV Fieldwork Facing a workforce bottleneck, the industry must adapt by embracing automation and intelligence. Key trends include:

  • Deployment of autonomous robots for inspections.
  • AI-driven diagnostics to augment limited technician availability.
  • A shift in mindset from traditional academic approaches to field-proven, real-world strategies.

By rethinking testing strategies and embracing simplicity and innovation, Emazys seeks to ensure the reliability, safety, and sustainability of solar power systems amid explosive global growth.

Read the full article here: https://pes.eu.com/exclusive-article/electrical-issues-in-pv-systems/

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