Despite advances in technology, Brad Perryman, Product Specialist Engineer at Seaward, argues that electrical inspection and testing of solar PV installations remains a critical requirement to ensure optimum safety and system performance.
The installation of a PV system by property owners or third party investors is almost always undertaken after careful consideration of the costs involved and the potential long-term return on investment provided by lower energy bills and avoided/mitigated demand charges.
It’s therefore critical that the verification of system performance and energy output from the panels is foremost in operators’ thoughts and planning, and why scheduled or preplanned periodic verification and testing of the system is vitally important and should be included as part of the planned O&M schedule. It also ensures compliance with warranty and PV system guarantees.