Commercial Solar PV O&M: Why It Matters

An Ablaze Green Energy Guide

Commercial solar PV systems must meet strict regulations, including G98 and G99, which govern how generation equipment connects to the electricity grid.

Following these rules isn’t just a legal requirement – it’s essential to keep your system safe, reliable, and performing at its best.

At Ablaze Green Energy, we view Operation & Maintenance (O&M) as yield protection. While most projects look impressive at handover, real value emerges over years 2–25 through monitoring, planned inspections, and rapid response that safeguard both production and warranties.

Why O&M Matters

A robust O&M programme protects your investment, ensures compliance, and maximises performance.

Key Benefits

  • Regulatory Compliance: Meeting G98 and G99 standards keeps your system legal and safe on the grid.
  • Yield Protection: Dirt, underperforming strings, inverter faults, or connection issues can quietly reduce energy output. Regular monitoring and timely intervention recover lost kWh.
  • Safety & Risk Reduction: Thermography and electrical inspections help reduce fire risk and unplanned downtime (FLIR thermal inspection guidance).
  • Warranty & Finance Compliance: Manufacturers, insurers, and lenders often require documented maintenance to honour claims.

What Can Go Wrong Without Proper Maintenance

Neglecting O&M can lead to significant issues:

  • Regulatory breaches: Incorrect settings or unverified protection may breach G98/G99 rules, risking fines or grid disconnection.
  • Reduced output: Soiling, shading, or underperforming inverters silently erode energy production.
  • Equipment failure: Loose connections, overheating, or missed maintenance can cause inverters or panels to fail or worse the mechanical fittings can fail and lead the panels to causing damage to property and/or harm individuals
  • Warranty risk: Lack of maintenance records may result in rejected claims.
  • Unplanned downtime: Poor alarm management and no on-site support can leave faults unresolved for days or weeks.

Ablaze Green Energy’s O&M Approach

Our O&M services are designed to keep your solar system performing efficiently year after year:

  • 24/7 Monitoring & Alert Triage: Real-time oversight at site and inverter level to detect and prioritise faults.
  • Preventive Maintenance: Regular inspections of panels and inverters, IV-curve testing to check electrical performance, torque checks on mounting and racking, and mechanical surveys of frames and cabling. (Solar Energy UK rooftop O&M guidance).
  • Compliance Pack: G98/G99 settings, commissioning baseline, RAMS, and test certificates (ENA guidance).
  • Spares & Lifecycle Planning: Critical spares list

Conclusion

Neglecting O&M can quietly erode your energy yield, risk compliance breaches, and compromise warranties. At Ablaze Green Energy, we make it simple to protect your investment, stay compliant with regulations, and maximise your system’s performance.

Get in touch with the Ablaze team today for a free O&M checklist and tailored performance review: gogreen@ablazegreenenergy.co.uk