How to Test for Optimal Solar Performance

When it comes to making sure a solar power system is operating at peak efficiency and performance levels, testing is obviously key. However, there’s definitely more to this task than meets the eye. Director of Technical Training at RESA Power Ben Clark broke down some of the key concepts in his presentation, “Testing for Optimal Solar Performance,” at the PowerTest24 Conference, which was held in late February in Dallas and sponsored by the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA), in this exclusive interview.

Clark starts off by going over some of the more common reliability issues when it comes to photovoltaic (PV) installations. Next, he offers a brief overview of the essential commissioning and maintenance techniques necessary on these types of jobs.

What type of testing needs to be done? That’s a loaded question, notes Clark. Although many projects are similar, he maintains there are nuances to each unique project and system.

“A lot of the components are similar like the same breakers and the same cables,” he says. “What’s new are the panels, the modules (where everything grounds) — those sorts of things that’s a little different.”

So it comes down to how do you verify the performance of the system. “It’s not just that we’re trying to verify these things exist and that are they wired correctly, but we need to determine what is their actual performance as part of an individual component as well as part of the system,” he says. “In a solar system, we try and take the smallest piece and then start attaching these bigger pieces. We want to test all the way down to the panel level, and then we want to break it out into a bigger system. Once you verify those small components, we can interconnect those with the bigger components.”

For electrical professionals seeking to enter this type of work, Clark stresses the importance of being a “qualified” worker. That’s why associations like NETA are so important for ongoing education, training, and certification. According to Clark, there’s a huge labor shortage with anything renewables related, so there’s definitely a need for certified solar technicians. He’s also a big advocate of collaboration.

“Don’t be afraid of reaching out across the aisle — even if it’s a competitor or somebody who may want the same type of work as you,” he says. “For the most part, everyone is willing to share information. There’s nothing wrong with that — from there we can all grow as an industry.”

When it comes to making sure a solar power system is operating at peak efficiency and performance levels, testing is obviously key. However, there’s definitely more to this task than meets the eye. Director of Technical Training at RESA Power Ben Clark broke down some of the key concepts in his presentation, “Testing for Optimal Solar Performance,” at the PowerTest24 Conference, which was held in late February in Dallas and sponsored by the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA), in this exclusive interview. Clark starts off by going over some of the more common reliability issues when it comes to photovoltaic (PV) installations. Next, he offers a brief overview of the essential commissioning and maintenance techniques necessary on these types of jobs. What type of testing needs to be done? That’s a loaded question, notes Clark. Although many projects are similar, he maintains there are nuances to each unique project and system. “A lot of the components are similar like the same breakers and the same cables,” he says. “What’s new are the panels, the modules (where everything grounds) — those sorts of things that’s a little different.” So it comes down to how do you verify the performance of the system. “It’s not just that we’re trying to verify these things exist and that are they wired correctly, but we need to determine what is their actual performance as part of an individual component as well as part of the system,” he says. “In a solar system, we try and take the smallest piece and then start attaching these bigger pieces. We want to test all the way down to the panel level, and then we want to break it out into a bigger system. Once you verify those small components, we can interconnect those with the bigger components.” For electrical professionals seeking to enter this type of work, Clark stresses the importance of being a “qualified” worker. That’s why associations like NETA are so important for ongoing education, training, and certification. According to Clark, there’s a huge labor shortage with anything renewables related, so there’s definitely a need for certified solar technicians. He’s also a big advocate of collaboration. “Don’t be afraid of reaching out across the aisle — even if it’s a competitor or somebody who may want the same type of work as you,” he says. “For the most part, everyone is willing to share information. There’s nothing wrong with that — from there we can all grow as an industry.”