Irregular maintenance schedules of solar plants adding costing to the owners

Manoj Kumar
info@impressivetimes.com

New Delhi: As India’s solar capacity continues to expand rapidly, a growing number of solar power plant owners are facing significant losses in electricity generation and revenue just by not having adequate operation and maintenance (O&M) equipment as well as unreliable installation practices, industry experts warn.
While solar power plants are promoted as low-maintenance, long-term assets, experts say that lack of regular servicing and monitoring can reduce annual power generation by 15 to 25 per cent, severely impacting the financial viability of projects. One of the experts in the field, ‘Jetsor Power Systems Pvt. Ltd’ (www.jetsor.in) while talking to this correspondent suggest that it is only timely service and maintenance to the solar plant can land you profitable generation of electricity and matching up your projections of power consumption and economy.

Maintenance Neglect Reduces Power Output
Solar modules, though robust, are constantly exposed to dust, pollution, heat, humidity and electrical stress. Without periodic cleaning, inspection and preventive maintenance, performance gradually deteriorates.
Industry specialists point out that common issues such as soiled panels, inverter tripping, loose electrical connections, grounding faults and unnoticed system failures often remain undetected for months in the absence of proper O&M. Experts say that it is a well-known fact that whatever technology you use, you have to keep a track of maintenance norms, which is applicable to the solar panels too. Since these panels face 100% exposure to the natural conditions like dust, rain etc. a more than routine care of these solar panels and the accessories need to be ensured.

“Even a short period of inverter downtime or unclean panels can lead to measurable revenue loss, especially for commercial and industrial consumers,” said expert from Jetsor Power Systems Pvt. Ltd.” ,  (www.jetsor.in) experts in energy sector.

 

Installers Disappearing After Commissioning
A more serious concern, according to solar plant owners, is the increasing number of EPC companies that install solar plants but disappear after commissioning.
Once the project is handed over, many such firms fail to provide post-installation support, leaving owners without technical assistance, spare parts access or warranty coordination.
As a result:
● Monitoring systems stop functioning
● Minor faults escalate into major failures
● Warranty claims become difficult to process
● Plant owners are forced to seek third-party service providers
These abandoned installations, often referred to in the industry as “orphaned solar plants,” typically operate far below their designed capacity.

Importance of Reliable Installation Partners
Experts emphasize that quality installation is as important as ongoing maintenance. Poor design, incorrect inverter sizing, substandard cabling and weak earthling practices can cause chronic performance issues that persist throughout the plant’s life.
“Maintenance cannot fully compensate for faulty installation,” said a senior solar consultant. “Choosing a reliable and experienced EPC partner at the outset is critical.”

Jetsor Power Systems Highlights Financial Impact
When this correspondent spoke to a representative of Jetsor Power Systems Pvt Ltd  (www.jetsor.in), a company involved in solar plant operation and maintenance, the financial impact of neglect was highlighted clearly.
During interaction, the expert from the company informed that in the absence of regular and professional maintenance, solar plant owners face continuous generation loss, frequent inverter failures and faster degradation of key components. In many cases, these losses are not immediately visible but eventually translate into lakhs or even crores of rupees in lost revenue.

“Proper installation by a reliable partner and consistent O&M are essential to protect a solar investment,” he added further.

Growing Need for Professional O&M Services
With solar plants expected to operate for more than two decades, industry observers believe that professional O&M services and long-term maintenance contracts will play a critical role in sustaining India’s renewable energy ambitions. Plant owners are increasingly seeking dependable service providers capable of offering regular inspections, performance monitoring and timely corrective action.
As the sector matures, experts caution that solar success will depend not just on capacity addition, but on sustained performance and reliability over time.