Renewable energy solutions for a sustainable tomorrow
These are the outcomes we are measured against when we take over a plant, not promises. Each one maps to a specific part of the maintenance cycle, from the first site audit to the quarterly performance review.
We keep a running log of inverter alarms across your fleet, so the same F28 or F31 trip does not get diagnosed from scratch twice. When a code appears, we already know the string layout, the combiner box history, and the last thermal scan results. That shortens the gap between alarm and reset, and it stops repeat faults from turning into warranty disputes.
Municipal approval and Eskom grid code submissions fail most often on incomplete relay coordination studies or missing test certificates. We handle the documentation flow, keep the protective relaying settings current, and make sure the as-built drawings match what is actually in the switchroom. When the inspector arrives, the file is ready.
Logging PR is only useful if the data is clean and the losses are labelled correctly. We set up the monitoring structure so soiling, clipping, and inverter availability are separate line items, not one lumped number. That way you know whether a drop in yield is a cleaning issue, a string fault, or a grid curtailment event.
Loose terminations in combiner boxes and DC isolators do not show up in electrical tests until they have already caused damage. Our infrared inspection routine targets the connections that carry the highest current, and we flag hot spots with a temperature delta that matters, not just a generic report. You get a repair priority list, not a photo album.
A storage system only pays for itself if the dispatch settings reflect the actual load profile and the current time-of-use structure. We review the charge and discharge windows, check the state-of-charge thresholds, and verify that the battery is not cycling unnecessarily on weekends. The goal is predictable operation, not speculative behaviour.
Working on DC switchgear is not the same as working on an AC board, and the lockout procedures need to reflect that. We document the isolation points for every string combiner and inverter, train the site team on the specific hazards, and keep the arc-flash labels current. When a fault happens, the response is calm because the steps are already drilled.
Want to see how these checks apply to a specific plant? Read the field notes on inverter fault diagnosis or the string sizing checklist.
Straight answers about maintenance routines, grid compliance paperwork, and what actually causes inverter trips. No legal padding, just what we have learned on site.
For most distributed PV plants in South Africa, we recommend a thermal scan of combiner boxes and DC isolators every six months. If your site is in a dusty area or has had a recent string fault, do it quarterly. Loose terminations and degraded lugs show up as hot spots long before they cause a full failure. Scan under load, ideally around midday when current is highest, and compare readings against the same string from the previous visit.
Performance ratio (PR) is the plant's actual output divided by the theoretical output based on irradiance, so it tells you how efficiently the system converts sunlight regardless of weather. Yield is simply the energy produced per kilowatt of installed capacity. A low PR with normal yield usually points to soiling, shading, or module degradation. A low yield with a healthy PR means the site simply had less sun. Log both, but treat PR as the diagnostic number.
If the battery is charging or discharging at the wrong times but follows the programmed schedule, it is a settings problem. If it ignores the schedule entirely, drops comms with the inverter, or shows inconsistent state-of-charge readings, suspect firmware. Before updating, check the comms cable and the CAN bus termination. We have seen more than one "firmware bug" turn out to be a loose RJ45 plug on the BMS link.
Most municipalities require a letter of approval from the local electrical inspector, a signed wiring certificate (CoC), and proof that the inverter meets the applicable grid code standard. Some also ask for a single-line diagram and a protection settings schedule. The exact forms vary by municipality, so check with the local authority before you order equipment. Getting the paperwork wrong at the start can delay grid connection by weeks.
Check the module's temperature-corrected Voc against the inverter's maximum input voltage using the lowest expected ambient temperature for your site, not the average. Then account for the extra current from rear-side irradiance; bifacial modules can push string current above the nominal Imp on bright days with high albedo. If the inverter clips early, your string is likely too long or the DC-to-AC ratio is set too high. Measure string voltages at the combiner box during commissioning and compare them to the design sheet.
Treat every DC isolator as live until you have verified zero voltage with a meter rated for DC. Check that the isolator is rated for DC breaking, not just AC, because DC arcs do not self-extinguish. Wear insulated gloves and use tools with insulated shafts. If the enclosure has been in the sun, let it cool before opening; heat accelerates component aging and makes it harder to spot a loose connection. Always have a second person nearby when working on live DC circuits.
Need a deeper look at a specific fault or compliance issue? Browse the field notes and checklists in our knowledge base.
Every service we offer comes from the same place: years of working on distributed solar PV across South Africa. We do the checks that catch faults before they cost you a day of production, and we document everything so you know exactly what was done and why.
We work through fault codes methodically, starting with string voltages at the combiner box and working up to the DC bus. If you are seeing repeated trips on Sungrow, SMA or Huawei units, we isolate the root cause before anything gets replaced.
Bifacial modules and high-altitude sites change the math. We check your string configurations against actual temperature data and albedo conditions, so you are not chasing overvoltage trips or clipping losses after commissioning.
Dust on bifacial modules is not just a front-surface issue. We measure rear-side accumulation and compare cleaned versus uncleaned string performance, so you know when washing actually pays for itself.
Eskom grid code requirements change, and municipal approval paperwork does not wait. We review your protective relaying coordination, verify settings against the latest requirements, and help you prepare the documentation for grid connection applications.
Loose connections in combiner boxes and DC isolators generate heat before they fail. We scan terminations under load and flag hot spots while they are still a maintenance item, not an emergency.
A performance ratio number is only useful if it is logged correctly. We set up your monitoring to capture the right data at the right intervals, and we show your team how to read the trends instead of just storing them.
Not sure which service fits your situation? Read how we approach a typical fault investigation on the blog, then get in touch.