Even a small failure can have serious and wide-ranging consequences for the ongoing operation of a solar project. However, by understanding what caused the failure, steps can be taken to prevent it from happening again. But with the rapid expansion of the solar industry, introduction of new technologies, and projects often deployed in challenging and sometimes extreme conditions, pinning down the cause of a failure can be a major challenge.
Many different materials and parts make up a solar PV farm, including PV modules, mounting parts, solar trackers, inverters, power cables, substations and, increasingly, batteries. They are exposed to varying degrees of solar irradiation, wind, rain, hail, snow, ice, salt and moisture, as well as mechanical factors such as friction, all potentially leading to integrity threats like metal fatigue, corrosion, and cracking.
