Solar O&M: Why Operations & Maintenance Protect Performance & ROI

Your solar array is a long-term revenue-generating asset—but like any mechanical system, it only performs as well as it’s maintained.

You wouldn’t expect your fleet of company vehicles or your commercial HVAC system to operate at peak performance for 25 years without inspections or tune-ups. Solar is no different. Although it has no moving parts, it is constantly exposed to weather, temperature swings, and other environmental stressors that can quietly degrade its performance over time.

Operations & Maintenance (O&M) protects your investment—ensuring your system produces the maximum energy (and financial returns) year after year.

What Impacts Solar Performance Over Time

Every commercial solar energy system experiences some level of performance decline over its lifecycle. The key difference between high-performing and underperforming assets lies in how early issues are detected and addressed.

Common factors that impact production include:

Physical Damage

Severe weather (hail, wind, lightning)
Animal damage to wiring or components
Impact damage to modules or racking

Temperature Extremes

Rapid swings between hot and cold can stress system materials over time. This thermal cycling can lead to:

Microcracks in modules
Premature component wear
Degraded electrical connections

Shading & Soiling

Vegetation growth
New nearby structures
Soliing (dirt, dust, pollen)

Even partial shading or soiling can disproportionately affect output—and, in some cases, damage cells or strings.

Natural Degradation

All systems experience a gradual efficiency loss from:

UV exposure
Humidity
Normal material aging

Individually, these issues may seem minor. Collectively—and left unaddressed—they can result in meaningful lost production and revenue over time.

The Data: Underperformance Is Growing Across the Industry

Industry data reinforces what asset owners are experiencing firsthand: solar underperformance is increasing across systems of all sizes.

According to the Raptor Maps 2025 Global Solar Report:

In 2024, average solar sites experienced 5.77% underperformance, up from 5.00% in 2023.
Underperformance increased across all asset classes, with the greatest variation observed in C&I systems.
The average asset experienced $5,720 per MWdc in annualized losses, up from $4,617 per MWdc the year prior.

Raptor Maps’ report uses NREL financial modeling to put this performance data into perspective:

A 100 MW system experiencing sustained underperformance at this level from year two through decommissioning could see its project IRR drop by nearly 250 basis points.

At the same time, climate-related risks are increasing. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the annual number of billion-dollar weather events has more than doubled since the 2010s—bringing greater exposure to hail, flooding, wind, and lightning-related damage.

The takeaway is clear: passive ownership is no longer enough.

Why O&M Matters Financially—and Operationally

Your system’s financial model assumes a certain level of energy production. When production falls short, the impacts show up quickly:

For commercial property owners:

Lower energy savings
Reduced cash flow
Long-term erosion of ROI

For developers and third-party asset owners:

Reduced PPA value
Lower cash flow and portfolio returns
Missed performance guarantees
Long-term erosion of project IRR

Beyond lost production, unresolved equipment issues can also introduce safety risks, including electrical faults and fire hazards.

O&M isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about protecting revenue, reducing risk, and preserving asset value.

The Two Sides of Effective Solar O&M: Corrective and Preventive

At GreenSpark Solar, we design O&M programs to address both immediate issues and long-term performance—tailored for C&I rooftops, distributed generation portfolios, and utility-scale assets.

Corrective O&M:
Fast, Data-Driven Response

When issues arise, speed and accuracy matter. Our corrective O&M approach includes:

Real-time system monitoring to identify performance anomalies as they happen
Historical data analysis—the longer a system is monitored, the faster anomalies can be identified and diagnosed
Targeted interventions that prioritize the biggest sources of lost production

For example, data allows us to distinguish between:

A single underperforming cell vs. an entire module
A module issue vs. a string issue
A string issue vs. an inverter-level problem

This precision helps recover power faster, minimize downtime, and avoid unnecessary site work.

Preventive O&M:
Catch Issues Before They Cost You

Preventive O&M protects long-term value. Our preventive services include:

Performance Reporting & Analysis

Ongoing performance analysis
Annual system health and production reporting

Aerial & Thermal Inspections

Drone inspections to identify:
- Water management issues
- Vegetation growth
- Physical damage
Thermal imaging to detect hot spots and module-level electrical issues

On-Site Inspections

Physical inspections by experienced NABCEP-Certified O&M technicians
Verification of equipment condition, wiring integrity, and safety concerns

Together, these tools allow us to spot issues early—before they escalate into lost revenue or significant repairs.

O&M Isn’t Optional—It’s Asset Stewardship

Solar energy systems are built to last decades, but performance isn’t guaranteed without active care. As portfolios grow larger and environmental risks increase, proactive O&M becomes essential—not optional.

Whether you own a single C&I rooftop system or manage a distributed portfolio of assets, the right O&M partner helps ensure your solar investment delivers on its promise.

Protect Performance. Reduce Risk. Maximize ROI.

GreenSpark provides custom O&M solutions for commercial, distributed, and utility-scale assets—combining real-time monitoring, data-driven diagnostics, and preventive inspections to keep systems operating at peak performance.

Don’t wait for lost production—or an emergency—to reveal gaps in your system’s performance. Get in touch with GreenSpark to:

Enroll in an active monitoring plan
Schedule your first annual site analysis
Learn how data-driven O&M can protect your ROI