Kiwa PVEL updates solar module testing protocols to address field failures
The independent test lab introduced test to failure methodologies and expanded hail and mechanical stress sequences to better reflect risks from extreme weather and glass breakage.
AI inspection data is gaining traction in solar risk assessment
Machine learning is enabling more granular performance tracking and insurance evaluation.
Remote inspection of new residential solar saves time and can improve safety
A report from nonprofit group IREC presents evidence that remote inspection of new residential solar and/or storage installations can yield improved code compliance and safety, compared to on-site inspection. In Texas, installers can hire an approved third-party remote inspector.
Proven ways to improve solar site performance and longevity
Solar Energy systems are designed and built with the intention of providing clean energy for 25+ years. However, the actual life span and performance of solar assets are highly dependent on numerous factors, including installation quality, equipment and product quality, preventative maintenance, operational strategies, and effectiveness of remediation efforts.
VDE Americas enhances Hail Risk Model to improve survivability of utility-scale solar
CEO Brian Grenko explains how models influence tracker design and storm response strategies.
A winter survival checklist for residential solar and storage
Otovo provides tips for solar customers to avoid getting caught with a dead battery or snow-covered panels when the next winter storm hits the grid.
U.S. solar assets lose average $5,070 per MW from power losses
A new report calculates the average power loss of 373 GW of utility-scale and commercial and industrial solar assets in the U.S. at 5.08%, more than double the level five years ago. The power loss average among projects deploying robotics and automation falls to 3%.
Firefighters overwhelmingly favor microinverter-based rooftop solar for safety
Survey results from the Solar and Fire Education (SAFE) training program — conducted in collaboration with Enphase Energy — show that 98% of firefighters would recommend microinverter systems based on their safety characteristics and all-AC architecture.
Extreme cold weather preparedness for renewable energy facilities
The devastating impact of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 fundamentally transformed how the electric power industry approaches cold weather preparedness, exposing critical Bulk Electric System vulnerabilities and catalyzing sweeping regulatory changes, including new mandatory NERC standards, that renewable energy facilities must now navigate.
Quantifying uncertainty to produce more useful solar generation forecasts
Renewable energy firm PowerUQ advocates for the use of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in solar project analytics to combat the widespread issue of performance shortfalls. By incorporating a wider range of variables and providing probability scenarios like P50 and P90, UQ aims to make solar generation forecasts more useful and accurate over a project’s long lifespan.
