Lessons in Solar Success: Servicing and Maintenance at a Lincolnshire School

After the initial cost of solar panel installation, it’s important to protect your investment with regular servicing and maintenance.
At Lincs Renewables, we take pride in not only offering bespoke solar panel installation but also the required maintenance to ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your solar panel set-up. This project, completed for a primary school near Brigg in North Lincolnshire, highlights our commitment to helping local organisations protect their renewable energy investment through professional servicing and maintenance.

The Client’s Goals

This solar panel maintenance project at a school near Brigg, in North Lincolnshire, was commissioned to:
• Maximise the systems performance: ensuring the school are getting the most out of their solar panel installation.
• Identify any potential issues: checking the system for any issues with the inverters, batteries or wiring before they developed into more costly problems down the line.
• Support electrical safety: ensuring the electrical system was operating safely and identify any issues that could lead to breakdowns or safety concerns for the school.

Why Regular Maintenance is Essential

On your journey to energy independence, it’s likely that installing solar panels on your business or property is at the forefront of your mind. Once they’re up, you may think you can simply plug and play without giving them another thought.
However, this is not the case. While it’s true that solar panels require minimal intervention, they do require regular maintenance and servicing to ensure they’re working correctly. If routine checks are neglected, several challenges can arise:

Reduced Energy Output: If panels become dirty or covered with dust, debris or animal droppings, this can significantly reduce the electricity they are able to generate.

System Malfunctions: It’s not only solar panels that require care and maintenance. Your inverters, batteries and wiring, if left unchecked, can escalate into costly breakdowns.

Safety Hazards: Failing to check and maintain the electrical components of solar panels can also lead to reduced power output, as well as equipment damage, and in serious cases can cause fires.

Voided Warranties: Not looking after your solar panels, or looking after them in an incorrect way, can void your warranty. For example, cleaning them with unsuitable chemicals or abrasive materials, or using pressure washers, can damage the glass or anti-reflective coating, therefore voiding your warranty.

Lower Return on Investment: When your system is dirty or damaged, it’s not performing as well as it should, meaning it may not deliver the financial benefits you expect.

Our team offer expert support, so if you’re ever unsure how to properly maintain your solar panels, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.

Key Technical Specifications

Detail	Information
Property	Primary school near Brigg
Solar Array	84 solar panels
Panel Cleaning	Soft-bristled brushes and de-ionised water
Electrical Testing	String voltage and current checks
Inverter Service	Functional checks and cleaning where required
Electrical Inspection	AC/DC isolators, connections, overheating and damage
Diagnostic Testing	Thermal imaging
Reporting	Service findings and recommendations for remedial works/improvements

Lincs Renewables’ Tailored Solution

To support this school, we identified three key areas where we could offer vital support:

Cleaning of All 84 Solar Panels

We cleaned all 84 solar panels using a professional, non-abrasive method. We used soft-bristled brushes and de-ionised water, which ensures a beautiful, streak-free clean. Our safe cleaning techniques are employed to ensure the panel surfaces, frames and seals are protected.

Electrical System Servicing

We carried out a comprehensive electrical service of the PV system. This included the testing and inspection of string voltages and current levels. Functional checks of inverter operation, as well as cleaning of the inverter units where necessary. We completed a visual and mechanical inspection of AC and DC isolators. We checked for loose connections, any signs of overheating or damage of any kind, as well as a general assessment of the system’s condition and safety.

Thermal Imaging

We used thermal imaging technology to detect any faults that could be hidden to the naked eye, as well as energy inefficiencies that require further investigation. We’ll also use this technology to check for hot spots that could indicate damaged cells, faulty bypass diodes, or loose wiring, which show up as abnormally hot areas. These vital checks help to prevent thermal runaway and fire risks.

The Impact: Supporting Reliable Solar Generation for the School

Following a clean and servicing of all 84 solar panels at the school near Brigg, they were left with a thoroughly maintained system and a clearer understanding of its overall condition.

Improved Efficiency: Dust, dirt, bird droppings, and pollen can stop the sunlight from reaching the panels, reducing efficiency by 10% to 30%. Cleaning all 84 panels with soft-bristled brushes and de-ionised water ensures less reliance on the grid and improved monthly savings.

Early Identification of Faults: Testing the strong voltages and current, checking inverter operation and inspecting the AC and DC isolators allowed our team to look for potential signs of wear, loose connections, overheating damage, finding any potential issues before they escalate.
Increased Reliability and Reduced Downtime: The electrical servicing and thermal imaging provided a more detailed assessment of the solar PV system, helping us to identify areas that could require further attention.

Improved Lifespan of Your Solar Array: Regular servicing and identifying any signs of wear and tear early on are the best way to ensure you’re supporting the long-term condition of your panels. When this is done efficiently, panels can last 30+ years. For the school, this service provided the opportunity to address any potential wear and tear.
We’ll also provided a summary of our findings following the service, with any recommendations for remedial works or improvements clearly explained in plain English, giving the school a clear understanding of the condition of the system and any next steps if required.Do You Require Solar Panel Maintenance for Your Business?

Solar panel servicing and maintenance can provide an effective way to ensure your solar system is working as efficiently as possible and therefore maximising the return on your investment.
Our team of fully qualified and experienced technicians is well equipped to handle a wide range of servicing, maintenance, and repair needs for renewable energy systems across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

For more information, call us on 01472 511487, email info@lincsrenewables.co.uk, or contact us online for a free quote.