ector ing in at e, and s day,


ays of grey as


the previous three years, but that turned out to be the least of their problems.


WHO IS MAINTAINING YOUR SOLAR PV SYSTEM?


was armers ance’,


maintain ore of massive se who seen ause a more


Ba NFU W W


FREEBEBASYSTEMHEALTH CHECKFORNFUMEMBERS*


“Wediscovered anumber of electrical issues, including aburnt out component that would have been arcing long before it finally died -and in somewhere like agrain store could have caused amajor fire.


W


ith a well-deserved reputation for spotting a good deal and embracing diversification, farmers were among the first to pick up


were among the first to pick up on the benefits of solar PV and its promise of reliable, low cost, low carbon energy.


While they have seen impressive returns from this exciting new technology,the downside is alack of clarity about the level of maintenance that systems require.


As BeBa Energy UK managing director Stephen Palmer pointed out: “Getting in at the start of solar was asmart move, and it remains agood investment to this day, particularly for high energy users.


“The problem is that in the early days of solar,maintenance was abit of agrey area, with most installers selling it as a‘fit and forget’ technology.Thatwas completely unrealistic –asmanyfarmers now realise. Solar is ‘low maintenance’, not ‘no maintenance’.


on the benefits of solar PV and its promise of reliable, low cost, low carbon energy. While they have seen impressive returns from this exciting new technology, the downside is a lack of instruction for the level of maintenance the systems require. As BeBa Energy UK managing director Stephen Palmer pointed out: “Investing in solar was a smart move, and it still remains a good investment, particularly for high energy users despite the press. A lot of farmers were sold on solar energy being a ‘fit and forget’ technology but their installers, however it does require a low amount of maintenance. “Farmers who recently started to maintain their systems after two years or more of no maintenance have seen a massive improvement in performance. Those who have done so from new will have seen returns above those predicted because a well-maintained system produces more energy than the average.” It was BeBa that came to the assistance of the NFU when staff at Stoneleigh realised


ith awell-deserved reputation for spotting a good deal and embracing diversification, farmers


“Not only was the output decreased by the dirty modules -inthisinstance by seven to eight per cent -itwas further reduced because the failed component had stopped ten per cent of the array from operating, with those two things combining to lose the NFU around 18% of its expected revenue.”


While they have seen impressive returns from this exciting new technology,the downside is alack of clarity about the level of maintenance that systems require.


As BeBa Energy UK managing director Stephen Palmer pointed out: “Getting in at the start of solar was asmart move, and it remains agood investment to this day, particularly for high energy users.


when staffatStoneleigh realised that its 36kw system, installed in 2012, was underperforming and took advantage of a free BeBa system health check.


While the NFU headquarters had been provided with asimple monitoring system showing the panels’ output, it didn’t highlight problems such as the burnt out component, something all BeBa installed systems enjoy and which can be retrofitted to systems taken on under amaintenance contract.


“The problem is that in the early days of solar,maintenance was abit of agrey area, with most installers selling it as a‘fit and forget’ technology.Thatwas completely unrealistic –asmanyfarmers now realise. Solar is ‘low maintenance’, not ‘no maintenance’.


“Wefound thesystem was in need of some immediate love and care,” recalled Stephen. “The NFU asked us to deep clean the modules and carry out afull electrical inspection.


“Westarted by cleaning the grime and dust that had built up on the panels over the previous three years, but that turned out to be the least of their problems.


“Farmers who recently started to maintain their systems after two years or more of no maintenance will have seen amassive improvement in performance. Those who have done so from new will have seen returns above those predicted because a well-maintained system produces more energy.”


It was NFU Approved Supplier BeBa that came to the assistance of the NFU


Burnt fuse holders arc and spark before they die.


“Farmers who recently started to maintain their systems after two years or more of no maintenance will have seen amassive improvement in performance. Those who have done so from new will have seen returns above those predicted because a well-maintained system produces more energy.”


“Wediscovered anumber of electrical issues, including aburnt out component that would have been arcing long before it finally died -and in somewhere like agrain store could have caused amajor fire.


While the NFU headquarters had been


“Not only was the output decreased by the dirty modules -inthisinstance by seven to eight per cent -itwas further reduced because the failed component had stopped ten per cent of the array from operating, with those two things combining to lose the NFU around 18% of its expected revenue.”


provided with a simple monitoring system showing the panels’ output, it didn’t highlight problems such as the burnt out components, something nearly all BeBa installed systems enjoy and which can be retrofitted to systems taken on under a maintenance contract. “All our Premier systems are monitored


Inverter filters can block causing inverters to overheat and fail early.


It was NFU Approved Supplier BeBa that came to the assistance of the NFU


While the NFU headquarters had been provided with asimple monitoring system showing the panels’ output, it didn’t highlight problems such as the burnt out component, something all BeBa installed systems enjoy and which can be retrofitted to systems taken on under amaintenance contract.


that its 36kw system, installed in 2012, was underperforming and took advantage of a free BeBa system health check. “We found the system was in need of some love and care,” recalled Stephen. “We started by cleaning the grime and dust that had built up on the panels over the previous three years, but that turned out to be the least of their problems. “We discovered a number of electrical issues, including a burnt out component that would have been arcing long before it burnt out and finally died - and in somewhere like a grain store could have caused a major fire. “Not only was the output decreased by the dirty modules - in this instance by an estimated 7-8% - it was further reduced because the failed component had stopped ten per cent of the array from operating, with those two things combining to lose the NFU around 18% of its expected revenue.”


*Onsystems over 30kW


Call BeBa the solar experts NOW 01442 220100 beba-energy.co.uk


*On systems over 30kW


The cost of having asolar PV system maintained by BeBa would be better described as an investment, since it can quickly result in improved performance and extra income at atime when other areas of farming are under pressure.


“All our systems are monitored remotely so that we can see performance and faults in real time,” explained Stephen. “We know immediately when there is aproblem or when asystem is underperforming. The fact that the inverter green light is on does not mean it is working properly.”


Stephen estimates that this issue has cost the Client over £6500.00 in lost revenue over the period and that could have been avoided with good annual preventative maintenance and professional monitoring that would have cost less than half of the loss without the benefit of hassle factor.


ADVERTISEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT


good deal and embracing diversification, farmers


were among the first to pick up on the benefits of solar PV and its promise of reliable, low cost, low carbon energy.


and extra income at atime when other areas of farming are under pressure.


COME AND SEE US AT CEREALS, STAND 845


underperforming an free BeBa system h


“The NFU’ssystem should earn £12,300 per year in FiT payments, so an 18 per cent fall in output costs the organisation £2,214 per year,plus the more than £400 needed to buy that amount of electricity from the grid,” said Stephen. “That £2,600- plus is many times more than the cost of a basic annual maintenance and clean.”


For April to June 2016, NFU members with 30kW or larger systems can request a Free Basic Check and report by contacting BeBa Energy.The company will report in the condition and safety of the system and discuss any intervention recommended to make the system more profitable.


remotely so that we can see performance and faults in real time,” explained Stephen. “We know immediately when there is a problem or when a system is underperforming. The fact that the inverter green light is on does not always mean it is working at 100%.” The cost of having a solar PV system maintained by BeBa would be better described as an investment, since it can quickly result in improved performance and extra income at a time when other areas of farming are under pressure.


“Wefound thesyst some immediate lo Stephen. “The NFU clean the modules electrical inspection


“Westarted by clea dust that had built u the previous three y out to be the least o


“Wediscovered an issues, including a that would have be finally died -and in store could have ca


“The NFU’ssystem should earn £12,300 per year in FiT payments, so an 18 per cent fall in output costs the organisation £2,214 per year,plus the more than £400 needed to buy that amount of electricity from the grid,” said Stephen. “That £2,600- plus is many times more than the cost of a basic annual maintenance and clean.”


See our leaflet enclosed with this magazine.


Call BeBa the solar experts NOW 01442 220100 BeBa-energy.co.uk


For April to June 2016, NFU members with 30kW or larger systems can request a Free Basic Check and report by contacting BeBa Energy.The company will report in the condition and safety of the system and discuss any intervention recommended to make the system more profitable.


*Onsystems over 30kW


Call BeBa the solar experts NOW 01442 220100 beba-energy.co.uk


For June to August 2017, NFU members with 30kW or larger systems can request a Free Basic Health Check by contacting BeBa Energy.


“Not only was the o the dirty modules - seven to eight per c reduced because th had stopped ten pe from operating, with combining to lose t its expected revenu


While the NFU head provided with asim showing the panels problems such as th something all BeBa and which can be re taken on under am


the NFU Headquartersusing ning equipment and deionized


Inverter Cooling Fanfilterwhichhas been completelycovered in dust and muck –this is verybad forthe invertersand can cause them to overheat reducing their expected operational life.


Cleaning Modules at the NFU to enhance the system output.


Panel cleaning is a professional process to maintain warranties.


BeBa cleaning the panels on the NFU Headquartersusing their specialised rotarycleaning equipment and deionized water spray.


Inverter Cooling Fanfilterwhichhas been completelycovered in dust and muck –this is verybad forthe invertersand can cause them to overheat reducing their expected operational life.


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