Solar Investors Guide – O&M for solar parks

04/03/2026 | Print view

EMC-direct

Professional operation and maintenance are fundamental for success in solar projects.

As a rule, one to three percent of the total investment should be allocated to operation and maintenance expenses over a 20-year period. Solar parks are therefore considered low-maintenance assets, with O&M costs significantly lower than those of fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.

Maintenance costs are largely driven by the extensive area covered by module fields. A solar park with a capacity of 300 MW and grid connection will require 250 to 300 hectares of land. There are hundreds of thousands of solar modules, kilometres of cabling and millions of small components such as DC connectors, cable ties and clamps.

Cost optimisation therefore focuses on minimising component variety and using durable, long-lasting components. In a solar park, components are exposed to weather and solar radiation for many years. Over time, this exposure affects both plastics and metals.

Operate plants proactively

To operate plants proactively, monitoring and advanced analysis tools are essential. Thermal imaging drones scan module fields to detect faulty modules. Electroluminescence analysis is used to identify damaged cells after a hailstorm. Sample tests on the ground can be employed to examine the backsheet films of solar modules.

These examples illustrate a broader principle. Operation and maintenance requirements must be integrated from the earliest planning and installation phases. Ultimately, long-term asset value is shaped long before the first kilowatt is generated, and the more systematically this is done, the more effectively the investment is safeguarded against avoidable follow-up costs and long-term depreciation.