Comprehensive proactive solar system testing across all operational stages, from commissioning to routine maintenance, is essential to identify hidden electrical, structural, and communication faults before they trigger severe safety risks, costly downtime, and lost energy revenue.

The majority of solar system fires can be traced back to preventable electrical issues. Routine inspections—especially using thermal imaging with drones or handheld cameras—combined with proper installation and other preventive maintenance are among the most effective ways to reduce fire risk.

Commissioning is a critical phase of any solar project, as it serves as the final verification process before a site is energized and handed over to the owner. A comprehensive commissioning process verifies that the project meets design specifications, safety requirements, and performance expectations.

An O&M plan that covers routine inspection and maintenance, especially of the most common failure points in a system, is guaranteed to optimize performance, safety, and longevity of any solar asset.

Skipping third-party commissioning isn’t saving money — it’s gambling with long-term system performance and health, which in turn could mean millions of dollars over the solar asset’s lifespan.

We recently partnered with pv magazine USA to share our perspective on a critical topic in the industry - Why some solar projects stand the test of time, and others fail well before their 25+ year projected lifespan: