Anyone who invests in a photovoltaic system should deal with the topic of maintenance and cleaning of the solar system. It makes no difference whether it is a direct photovoltaic investment or whether you use the photovoltaic system yourself. The maintenance of a PV system on the roof hardly differs from the maintenance of a PV open space system. The good news: In principle, photovoltaic systems very rarely break. Nevertheless, as the operator of a PV system, you should ensure regular maintenance, cleaning and inspection of the system.

In principle, all components of the photovoltaic system are checked during maintenance. The most visible component for the operator, the modules, is not even the focus of maintenance. The electronic components are much more sensitive than the modules of a photovoltaic system: PV inverters and solar cables. In addition, there is a regular check of the PV substructure, i.e. the frame on which the PV system is attached.

• Checking the modules and the PV substructure

When servicing the photovoltaic modules and the mounting system, the first step is to check for visible damage. For example, PV modules can be damaged by hail. Furthermore, it is checked whether all screws and clamps are firmly tightened, i.e. whether the PV module is securely attached to the substructure. The cleaning of the solar modules is not a mandatory part of the maintenance of a solar system.

• Checking the solar cables

Regular maintenance of photovoltaic systems should also include checking the solar cables. The solar cables connect the photovoltaic modules with the PV inverter.

• Inverter maintenance

The inverter is the most sensitive part of a solar system. The inverter service life is usually shorter than that of the PV system as a whole, which is why it is advisable to pay special attention to the inverter through regular maintenance.

For some solar companies, cleaning the PV modules is part of the maintenance process, but cleaning is not absolutely necessary. Some PV modules are self-cleaning, while regular cleaning makes perfect sense for other PV modules. If you are dealing with the purchase of a photovoltaic system and are looking at offers from various companies, it is best to simply ask which PV modules will be installed in the solar system.

There are now new offers on the PV market that make maintenance and cleaning even easier. Via remote monitoring, the PV systems are not only checked regularly, but also permanently. The responsible company can thus immediately recognize if there are abnormalities in the photovoltaic system, for example if the performance of the system suddenly drops. In this way, maintenance can be initiated precisely when the PV system requires maintenance or repair. Even PV modules, for which regular cleaning is recommended, can be checked more easily. By continuously checking the performance of the photovoltaic system, the company knows exactly whether and when it is necessary to clean the solar modules.