Our use of cookies How to maintain your commercial solar panels
Not taking care of your solar panel system can lead to unexpected costs due to reduced efficiency, premature equipment failure, and voided warranties.
This guide covers everything you need to know about maintaining a commercial solar system, including in-house and outsourced maintenance activities.
Contents
- Why commercial solar maintenance matters
- What commercial solar panel maintenance involves
- Commercial solar panel maintenance schedule and frequencies
- In house solar panel maintenance for businesses
- Professional solar panel maintenance for servicing and repairs
- Solar panel maintenance costs and budgeting
Why commercial solar maintenance matters
Like any long-term investment, a solar PV system delivers the best returns when it is properly cared for. Regular commercial solar maintenance helps protect the financial returns of your system.
Here are the key benefits of regular solar maintenance:
- Panel efficiency – Dirt, shading, and unnoticed faults can reduce power generation by up to 20%.
- Extended system lifespan – Early identification of issues such as inverter faults, damaged panels, or degraded wiring prevents equipment failure and prolongs the life of your entire system.
- Warranty protection – Solar panels and related equipment are supplied with warranties against premature failure. Regular professional maintenance is typically required to keep these warranties valid.
- Safety standards – While commercial solar panels are generally very safe, problems such as corroded mounts, loose connections, or damaged cabling can create risks if left unchecked.
What commercial solar panel maintenance involves
This section summarises the activities typically included within a solar maintenance plan.
Remote monitoring
Professional commercial solar maintenance firms usually provide continuous remote monitoring services that track:
- Power output of each individual string of panels
- Overall system output
- Fault codes on inverters and PV solar batteries
Monitoring systems can also compare output against weather conditions and seasonal variations to automatically flag anomalies that require on-site maintenance.
Regular cleaning
Dirt, dust, bird droppings, and even salt build-up in coastal or agricultural areas can block sunlight and reduce efficiency.
Professional cleaning removes these deposits, helping panels maintain optimal output. Cleaning frequency depends on local conditions, with risk factors such as flat tilt angles or nearby construction often requiring more regular attention.
As a minimum, a professional clean every six months is usually recommended.
Inspections and testing
Annual professional on-site inspections are usually required for equipment warranties and to ensure the safety of the system.
A detailed professional inspection will typically include:
- Examining the panels for physical or environmental damage, such as cracks or yellowing
- Checking the integrity of all mounting systems and ensuring there is no nesting by birds or rodents
- Inspecting cables for fraying or chewing and confirming that all connections are secure
- Proactively identifying and removing any sunlight obstructions, such as growing branches
- Performing electrical tests on all components to verify integrity, safety, and performance
- Using thermal imaging cameras to detect hotspots on equipment
Repairs and replacements
Even the most robust systems experience wear over time. Critical components such as inverters, isolators, batteries, and MC4 connectors may need repair or replacement to keep the system operating safely and efficiently. Proactive replacements help reduce downtime and protect long-term ROI.
Premium solar maintenance contracts often include warranty and claims management for any underperforming components.
Commercial solar panel maintenance schedule and frequencies
Most businesses consider their solar panel systems as infrastructure investments and typically arrange maintenance contracts with installers or solar panel servicing companies.
Some larger businesses may opt for a private wire Corporate Power Purchase Agreement, under which the PPA provider assumes responsibility for maintenance.
In either scenario, regular maintenance is essential. The table below summarises the typical frequencies of solar maintenance activities:
| Maintenance Activity | Description | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Check panels, inverters, cabling, racking, junction boxes, and site for visible damage or hazards. | Monthly – Quarterly |
| Performance monitoring review | Compare system output with expected production, check inverter logs, and identify anomalies. | Continuous (via monitoring software) |
| Panel cleaning | Remove dust, bird droppings, pollen, or other debris that may reduce efficiency. | At least twice a year, depending on local conditions |
| Inverter inspection and testing | Check indicators, fans, filters, DC/AC connections, and perform firmware updates. | Annually |
| Electrical testing | Test insulation resistance, grounding, string connections, and carry out thermal imaging of connections. | Annually |
| Mechanical checks | Inspect mounting structures, bolts, fasteners, and alignment for corrosion, loosening, or movement. | Annually |
| Cable and connector checks | Inspect for wear, UV degradation, loose connections, or rodent damage. | Annually |
| Vegetation management | Trim plants or grass that may shade panels or obstruct access. | Depending on local conditions |
In-house solar panel maintenance for businesses
Commercial solar systems are high-voltage electrical installations that pose a significant hazard during maintenance activities. Commercial solar maintenance should always be carried out by certified technicians using the appropriate safety equipment.
That said, the following outlines a number of areas where maintenance can be supported by basic, regular checks that can be performed in-house.
In-house monitoring
Business energy monitoring software is recommended for any business that generates its own solar energy on-site.
Monitoring software automatically receives live generation data from commercial solar panels, along with grid consumption data from business energy monitoring.
A significant spike in the power being drawn through your business energy connection may indicate a problem with your solar panels, prompting you to arrange an ad hoc inspection of the panels.
Ground-level visual checks
Identifying some common problems with commercial solar panels does not require extensive professional experience.
A monthly ground-level inspection of panels can help identify the following issues:
- Blocking vegetation – Tree branches growing over panels and blocking sunlight will significantly reduce power generation.
- Nesting animals – Animals using the panels or equipment as nesting sites can cause damage, such as chewed wires. This is a particularly common problem in agrivoltaic farms.
- Warning lights – Inverters often display a flashing red warning light if there is an issue.
If you spot any of these issues, it is time to arrange an ad hoc professional visit from a maintenance technician.
Professional solar panel maintenance for servicing and repairs
Most businesses with solar systems have a long-term professional maintenance service agreement.
Professional solar maintenance providers usually offer servicing based on a tiered fee structure.
At the lower end of the spectrum, a basic maintenance contract will cover only the minimum required to maintain warranties, usually limited to an annual inspection and safety test.
At the higher end, a premium maintenance contract may include priority call-outs, warranty claims management, and insurance covering damage or theft.
Commercial solar servicing visit
All professional solar maintenance contracts include a scheduled servicing visit.
During a typical visit, the technician begins with a site walk-through and visual inspection. They look for obvious signs of damage or wear on panels, inverters, cabling, and mounting structures, as well as potential shading issues caused by vegetation or other obstructions.
The technician then conducts electrical and performance checks, testing string voltages, insulation resistance, grounding, and inverter functionality.
For systems with battery storage or advanced inverters, software updates and cooling system checks may also be carried out. Any worn components, filters, or connections are recorded for replacement.
Finally, the technician prepares a service report summarising findings and corrective actions taken on-site. This report should be retained to support future warranty claims.
Common commercial solar repairs
If any issues are identified during the annual servicing of a commercial solar system, the service report will recommend the necessary repairs.
Common recommended repairs include:
- Loose or damaged electrical connections – tightening or replacing cabling, connectors, or junction box components.
- Inverter component failures – replacing fans, filters, circuit boards, or occasionally the entire inverter.
- Panel issues – repairing or replacing cracked, chipped, or delaminated modules.
- Mounting system fixes – tightening bolts, replacing corroded fasteners, or addressing structural movement.
Solar panel maintenance costs and budgeting
Businesses typically enter into a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement with their installer, which covers regular solar maintenance activities.
Solar installation providers generally recommend budgeting 2–3% of the total installation cost each year for routine maintenance, monitoring, and inspections. For example, if your installation cost £30,000, you would allocate between £600 and £900 per year for these services.
Planned replacements
Solar panels and associated equipment have an expected lifespan, which is covered under the product warranty.
The panels themselves will likely continue operating effectively for up to 40 years, but inverters have a shorter lifespan of 10–15 years, after which replacement is typically required.
Additionally, the capacity of solar batteries will decline over time and may eventually no longer be sufficient.
Visit our full page on commercial solar costs for a breakdown of the likely expenses associated with these equipment replacements.
Commercial solar maintenance FAQs
Our business energy experts answer some of the most common questions about commercial solar maintenance.
How does maintenance affect solar panel lifetime?
Most solar panels are designed to last around 25 to 30 years before their efficiency declines significantly. However, this lifespan depends on regular maintenance, which is often a condition of the warranty.
Components such as inverters, which convert solar energy into usable electricity, and mounting structures are more susceptible to wear and tear and therefore require periodic inspections to prevent failures.
Proactively identifying issues such as corrosion, water ingress, or electrical irregularities can prevent minor problems from escalating into costly, large-scale repairs.
How does maintenance affect solar panel efficiency?
The efficiency of solar panels is crucial to their overall performance. Neglecting maintenance allows layers of dust, debris, and other residues, such as bird droppings, to accumulate on the panel surface.
These layers act as barriers between the sun’s rays and the photovoltaic cells, preventing the panels from operating at full capacity. In commercial settings, solar panels may be exposed to greater levels of particulates from industrial activities, which can exacerbate the problem.
A reduction in efficiency means your company will need to draw more power from the grid, resulting in higher business electricity prices.
Does rain clean solar panels?
Yes, rainfall can naturally help clean solar panels to some extent by washing away loose dirt and debris. However, it is ineffective against more stubborn residues such as tree sap and bird droppings.
This gives the UK a natural advantage when it comes to solar panel maintenance. While the country may not enjoy the solar resource levels of southern Spain, its frequent rainfall helps keep solar panels relatively clean without the need for manual intervention.
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