provider. This means that during the next site visit, the O&M provider can replace the failed module, instead of only learning about its existence, saving both the time and cost of a follow-up visit.
Q
: With ROI closely linked to technology selection, is there
anything in particular our readers should know?
CB: The types of impacts to revenue and costs I’ve outlined can be directly related back to the original inverter selection. In the past five years, the inverter selection became renowned for its influence on BoS costs, but more recently it has been directly associated with system production and O&M expenses. This is because the inverter manages 100% of system production and controls O&M expenses. For instance, some inverters provide cloud-based, module-level monitoring free for the system lifetime. Not only does this eliminate a CAPEX cost, but it also reduces ongoing maintenance costs and helps to increase system uptime. With O&M costs being approximately 1-2% of initial system cost, according to SolarEdge estimates, module-level monitoring with remote troubleshooting reduces this cost by 15-25%.
For example, monitoring, particularly module-level monitoring, can allow pinpointed alerts to system issues in order to reduce trips to the site and time spent on site. Let’s say a module has a failed diode. With module- level monitoring, an automatic alert will notify the O&M
www.tomorrowsfm.com
Because of these factors, inverter selection is increasingly important for the ongoing health and production of commercial PV systems. Therefore, when planning a large investment like a commercial PV system, it is crucial to understand how inverters can increase system revenue and decrease costs throughout the system lifetime.
www.solaredge.com/uk TOMORROW’S FM | 23
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