Operations & Maintenance

A recent report from the European trade association SolarPower Europe (SPE) has highlighted the use of data-driven techniques, industry 4.0 solutions and robotics as some of the key trends in operations and maintenance (O&M) for the solar industry.

Amid the transition to more decentralised energy systems, solar projects are exposed to new cybersecurity risks, says SolarEdge's Uri Sadot.

Damaging hailstorms can occur frequently across states like Texas and Illinois which have become major utility-scale solar markets.

A round-up of last week's news from China, including UtmoLight, the Mingyang Smart Energy Group and Leapting.

The valuable materials and equipment found on a solar project site make them prime target for criminal activity. Kelly Barnes, senior intelligence analyst at DeterTech, explores some of the latest thinking on keeping the thieves away.

Slovakian software provider Solargis has launched Evaluate 2.0, the second generation of its 3D PV power plant designer.

Service provider company RES has secured a contract to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) work at a 400MW solar PV plant in Chile.

India-based Gensol Engineering has secured an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for a 275MW solar PV plant in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Spanish inverter manufacturer Ingeteam and PV automation solutions company Quantified Energy Labs (QE-Labs) have performed a drone electroluminescence (EL) inspection on a PV plant.

US solar tracker supplier Array Technologies has invested US$3 million in autonomous robotics company Swap Robotics' automated solar panel laying technology.