The most common errors that occur in photovoltaic systems

“Seagull poop is actually a small challenge, especially during the breeding season there can be a lot of it. We recently discovered this at one of our customers in Drammen, Brække Eiendom, smiles Håkon Trømborg in Sunday Power.

There, the seagulls had really broken loose and left “business cards” all over the roof. Fortunately, through our software, SundayOS, it was easy to detect that the plant was not performing optimally.

“On a cloudless day, we know that the curve of solar installations follows the curve of the sun throughout the day. It also did so in the building in Drammen, which is leased to Drammen Padel. But because SundayOS combines several different data sources, we discovered that the plant produced 23 percent less electricity than its full potential,” says Håkon.

In such situations, it is we at Sunday Power who should quickly find out why the customer is not getting the maximum out of the plant, which has become much easier with the technology we have developed.

“In this case, it was birds that created challenges, and we have to take that into account at some facilities at certain times of the year. Everything that is installed outdoors is exposed to nature and external influences, but that is why it is so important to monitor performance at all times so that we can quickly move out and fix the problem,” says Håkon.

Max value with monitoring and optimization

However, it is not always necessary to climb onto the roof to solve the problem. We have developed software that collects data from many different sources and effectively monitors the facilities.

The monitoring primarily has two purposes: we find out when something is wrong as early as possible, and we fix it as quickly and cheaply as possible.

“Our experience with our facilities in Norway is that 30 percent have had incidents, and that although there are some recurrences in the type of errors, there is also a large variation. That's why monitoring is so important,” explains Håkon.

When we have combined the technology with our growing experience with more and more solar photovoltaic systems, we have gained a good overview of what faults can occur and how we can solve or avoid them.

“Whether the customer owns the plant itself, or we are the ones who financed the plant, everyone benefits from the fact that the plant produces as much renewable electricity as possible,” says Håkon.
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Read also: Efficient operation maximizes the return from the solar system

‍The most common errors that occur

The planning phase

1. Incorrect sizing of the plant: When planning a photovoltaic system, it is absolutely essential to make correct calculations of the energy demand and the available space. Improper sizing can result in the plant either producing too little power or overloading the main fuse.
2. Incorrect assessment of solar conditions: For maximum power of the plant, you need to have a good understanding of the solar conditions on the area where you are installing. You need to take into account shade conditions, snow amounts and the path of the sun throughout the year.

The installation phase

1. Fault links: One of the most common installation errors is the failure of electrical couplings. This can lead to reduced efficiency or, in the worst case, dangerous situations such as short circuits. Incorrect connection of the plant to the electrical system in the building can also cause problems. Then all the production can go straight onto the grid and the value of the plant is lost.
2. Incorrect programming of inverters: Inverters are the heart of a photovoltaic system, and incorrect programming can cause the plant not to function properly. It is important to ensure that the inverters are properly configured and that they match the plant specifications.

Operation and calibration

1. Manufacturing errors on inverters: After the plant is installed and in operation, manufacturing defects may occur on the inverters. These errors can be difficult to detect without proper calibration and monitoring.
2. Elhub Setup Error: Elhub is the central database for energy production in Norway, and errors in the setup can cause both revenue and data to be lost.
3. Errors in registration with the online tenant: In addition to the correct setup in Elhub, the plant must be correctly registered. Incorrect registration can lead to the loss of all income on exported production, and this is not an entirely uncommon error.

Operation and maintenance

1. New hardware glitches: Over time, new hardware failures may occur that affect plant performance. This includes wear of components and failure of cables and couplings.
2. Smudging of panels: Dirt, dust and dung from birds can reduce the efficiency of the solar panels. Regular cleaning is therefore necessary to obtain optimal performance.
3. Leaks through the roof: Solar panels installed on the roof can in some cases lead to leaks. This can damage both the roof and other parts of the building, which is why it is important to inspire regularly.
4. Loss of internet connection: Many photovoltaic systems rely on internet connection for monitoring and data collection.Loss of internet can lead to loss of vital data necessary to optimize the plant.
5. Soil defects and grid quality problems: Solar power plants may experience ground faults or grid quality issues in the 230V grid. This can affect both safety and

Ensuring the optimal operation of an outdoor technological facility, such as a photovoltaic system, requires not only good planning and execution, but also professional follow-up. Knowing all the potential problems and using the best technology on the market, we ensure that your rooftop solar system provides maximum energy production.

Read also: How to take advantage of negative electricity prices

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