
Optimizing Preventive and Predictive Maintenance of Solar Panels with Intelligent CMMS
Thursday 16 january 2025
Managing photovoltaic installations poses unique challenges for maintenance companies. Between weather conditions, soiling, and the limited lifespan of certain components such as inverters or the panels themselves, maintaining optimum energy efficiency requires advanced management tools. This is where Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) comes in. And when combined with innovative features such as Yuman's native tour optimizer, it becomes an invaluable asset for optimizing preventive and predictive interventions.
Why is preventive maintenance crucial for photovoltaic panels?
Solar panels perform optimally when their components remain clean, intact and connected to high-performance inverter systems. However, several problems can affect their performance:
- Fouling and dirt build-up: Dust deposits, sand, leaves, or bird waste can block some of the sun's rays and reduce output. A production loss of 5-20% can occur if regular cleaning is not carried out.
- Technical failures: Inverters, in particular, are critical components with a limited lifespan. Faulty connections or broken cells can also disrupt production.
- Weather conditions: Panels are exposed to the elements, which can lead to microcracks, deformation or electrical malfunctions.
Without a rigorous preventive maintenance program, these problems can lead to costly breakdowns or significant yield losses.
The role of CMMS in preventive and predictive maintenance
An advanced CMMS like Yuman enables photovoltaic maintenance companies to proactively manage their interventions. Here's how:
1. Automatic scheduling of preventive maintenance
- A CMMS makes it possible to create precise maintenance schedules based on manufacturers'recommendations, intervention histories, and local conditions.
- Automated alerts ensure that technicians don't forget any critical interventions, such as panel cleaning or inverter replacement.
2. Collecting and analyzing data from IoT sensors
- IoT sensors installed on solar installations can monitor parameters such as temperature, voltage and current in real time.
- The CMMS integrates this data to identify anomalies before they turn into major breakdowns. For example, a sudden drop in efficiency may indicate impending inverter fouling or failure.
3. Intervention history tracking
- Each intervention is documented in the CMMS, creating a complete history of actions carried out on each installation.
- This history helps to identify repetitive trends, such as specific components breaking down frequently, enabling maintenance strategies to be adjusted.
Yuman's key strength: a powerful, native tour optimizer
One of the weak points of maintenance companies is often the inefficient management of technician travel, which can lead to high costs and wasted time. This is where Yuman's integrated route optimizer makes all the difference.
How does the route optimizer work?
- Intelligent planning:Yuman's algorithm takes into account several variables, such as technician location, service priorities, estimated job duration and customer time constraints.
- Efficient routing: It automatically generates optimized routes to reduce travel times and maximize the number of interventions per day.
- Managing the unexpected: In the event of a cancellation or emergency, the optimizer readjusts routes in real time to minimize the impact on other interventions.
Concrete benefits for photovoltaic maintenance companies
- Cost reduction: Less travel time means lower fuel costs and better use of human resources.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction: Interventions are carried out more quickly, with clear communication on technician arrival times.
- Ecological impact: By limiting unnecessary travel, the company reduces its carbon footprint.
Practical example: optimizing routes for a solar park
Imagine a company managing the maintenance of several solar parks spread over a large geographical area. Before using Yuman, technicians had to manually plan their trips, which was often a source of inefficiency and frustration.
With the integration of Yuman's tour optimizer:
- Reduced travel time:Each technician follows an optimized route, reducing distances traveled by 25%.
- Increased daily interventions: Technicians can perform up to 30% more interventions per day.
- Improved responsiveness: In the event of an urgent breakdown at a site, the algorithm reallocates resources in just a few clicks.
Conclusion: CMMS and Yuman, an indispensable duo for photovoltaics
The adoption of an advanced CMMS like Yuman is transforming the way photovoltaic maintenance companies operate. By combining predictive planning, IoT data collection and a powerful tour optimizer, Yuman not only maximizes the efficiency of interventions, but also ensures optimum customer satisfaction while reducing costs.
In an industry where energy performance and sustainability are paramount, Yuman provides companies with the tools they need to remain competitive and innovative. Adopting a solution like this one means investing in a more efficient, environmentally-friendly future.
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