For businesses with solar PV, installing the panels is only the start. Once the system is up and running, it’s important to know that it continues to perform as expected. This is where solar monitoring can make a real difference.

A data stick connected to your solar inverter can give you access to important information about your system, including how much electricity it is generating and whether there are any issues that need attention.

For a business, having this information available can help you get the most from your solar investment.

What is a solar data stick?

A data stick is a small device connected to the solar inverter. It collects information from the PV system and sends it to an online monitoring platform or app.

This allows you to view your solar system remotely without having to access the inverter itself.

Depending on the equipment installed, you may be able to see:

  • Daily, monthly and yearly electricity generation
  • Current system performance
  • Inverter status
  • Faults and warnings
  • Changes in generation over time

This information can give you a much clearer picture of how your solar PV system is performing.

Why does monitoring matter for businesses?

For a commercial solar PV system, performance matters.

The amount of electricity your system generates can have a direct impact on how much electricity you need to purchase from the grid. If the system isn’t performing as expected, you could be missing out on potential savings.

Without monitoring, a problem may go unnoticed for some time.

With a monitoring system in place, you can see if there has been a significant change in generation and arrange for the system to be investigated where necessary.

Identify issues sooner

Solar PV systems have a number of different components, including panels, inverters, cabling and protection equipment.

If something develops a fault, it can affect the amount of electricity your system generates.

For example, if an inverter stops working, the system may stop generating electricity altogether. If nobody is monitoring the system, this may not be noticed straight away.

Having remote monitoring means you can see when something isn’t right and act sooner.

It doesn’t replace regular maintenance and inspections, but it does provide another useful way of keeping track of the system.

Understand how your system is performing

Monitoring also allows businesses to look at their solar generation over time.

You can see how much electricity has been generated each day, month or year and compare performance over different periods.

This can be particularly useful for businesses that have invested in solar to reduce their electricity costs.

By understanding when your system generates the most electricity, you can also get a better idea of how much of that generation is being used on site.

Make the most of your solar investment

Commercial solar PV is a long-term investment. The better you understand how your system is performing, the easier it is to identify when something may need attention.

A data stick provides a relatively simple way to keep an eye on your system without needing to be on site.

For businesses with multiple sites, remote monitoring can be particularly useful, as system performance can potentially be viewed without having to visit each location.

What if your monitoring isn’t working?

It’s important to remember that a problem with the monitoring system doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem with the solar PV system.

For example, the data stick may lose its internet connection, meaning the monitoring platform stops receiving information. The solar system itself may still be generating electricity.

If your monitoring data stops updating, it is worth getting this checked to establish whether the issue is with the monitoring equipment or the PV system itself.

Does your existing system have monitoring?

If you already have a commercial solar PV system but don’t have access to its performance data, it may be worth checking whether monitoring is available.

Depending on the make and model of your inverter, an additional data stick or monitoring device may be available.

Having access to your system data can give you greater visibility of your solar generation and help you identify potential issues before they become a bigger problem.

Keeping your solar investment performing

Commercial solar PV is designed to provide businesses with renewable electricity for many years. But like any other electrical system, it needs to be monitored and maintained to ensure it continues to perform as expected.

A data stick is a simple way to keep track of your solar generation, identify changes in performance and help make sure you’re getting the most from your investment.

If you have a commercial solar PV system and want to know more about monitoring, get in touch with our team. We can discuss your existing system and the monitoring options available. Email gogoreen@alazegreenenergy.co.uk or call 01252 834000