Why is energy availability important in assessing PV systems?

Both energy and availability are necessary metrics for assessing PV systems. If the stakeholders involved in a contract are most interested in energy production, and if the contract holds parties responsible for energy production, then it is crucial that energy losses associated with unavailability and system performance are accounted for.

Why should you track energy availability in a PV operation contract?

Tracking this availability (or unavailability) provides transparency into the equipment reliability state to all parties involved in an O&M services contract. In most PV operation contracts, energy will be the driving factor of whether the system is operating as expected.

Why is battery energy storage important for PV industry?

It will serve as input to PV industry certification and compliance approaches and practices. Combining PV with storage brings additional financial considerations. Battery energy storage can resolve technical barriers to grid integration of PV and increase total penetration and market for PV.

How does energy affect a PV operation contract?

In most PV operation contracts, energy will be the driving factor of whether the system is operating as expected. EPC guarantees, operator guarantees, owner measure of ROI, and other considerations for a contract are mostly based on whether the system produced energy as it was expected to.

Who is responsible for the safety of a PV system?

The asset owner is ultimately responsible for safety related to a PV system and must meet that responsibility through the specific requirements of O&M service contracts and mitigate risk through accident and liability insurance. O&M of battery systems involves important considerations related to environmental and safety requirements.

Why is data analysis important for PV system performance?

Data analysis is a powerful tool for understanding PV system performance, but it is fundamentally limited by the quality of sensors and models being used, in addition to the condition of the array.