Renewable energy system maintenance: How to improve your safety protocols

Key Takeaways:

Here’s a quick overview of how to improve safety protocols in renewable energy system maintenance:

• Renewables are the fastest-growing energy source in the US, and field technicians need to be upskilled on new systems and equipment.
• In high-stakes environments, real-time data sharing between office teams and field crews is crucial for safe and coordinated maintenance operations.
• Standardized operations and maintenance (O&M) programs lower risk, enhance asset performance, and boost investor confidence.
• Preventive maintenance reduces the need for emergency repairs, prolongs equipment life, and safeguards workers and the public, particularly during severe weather conditions.
• FSM software provides technicians with job history, equipment records, and site details at the right time, allowing them to make safer situational decisions in the field.

The transition to renewable energy is gaining momentum in the United States. As of 2020, renewables are the fastest growing energy source in the U.S., with a 42% increase between 2010 and 2020, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. With this ongoing shift, it’s inevitable that service companies will need to introduce new processes to their organizations — especially in light of shifting government policies and rising sources of financial support.

As the energy sector adapts to practical considerations, it’s critical that service providers prioritize the needs of field workers who are directly responsible for ground-level energy systems maintenance. Because of the high-stakes of the utilities industry, there is absolutely no wiggle room for error — lives are at stake, in terms of both consumer demands and worker safety. Getting the transition right, safely, and efficiently, is a must.

Here’s how, exactly.

Why does the renewable transition demand new field service processes?

The renewable energy acceleration will introduce the need for upskilling and field service management training, at multiple organizational levels. Real-time data is essential for coordinating operational efforts between office teams and professionals in the field. Especially for technicians who have spent decades working on the road, renewable energy maintenance and systems are a new concept to learn.

In addition, there’s more that needs to get done than there is human power to make it happen. There’s no other choice but to rely on maintenance software automation, and artificial intelligence for support. Technology is a must rather than a ‘nice-to-have.’ Beyond driving efficiencies, FSM software can help ensure that field teams are doing their jobs safely. With this foundation, utilities and service companies can gain efficiencies while prioritizing overall well-being.

How does work order management improve renewable energy maintenance?

Across the board, employees are under pressure to get more done in less time. This pressure has the potential to create extra stress, particularly during moments of severe weather conditions and natural disasters. Consider this report published by the National Energy Renewable Laboratory (NREL) as an example, which published the following operations and maintenance (O&M) analysis:

• Is system performance monitored and recorded? Are trends in performance examined continuously or regularly?
• Does the monitoring supplier provide forecasting? At what horizon, time resolution, update frequency, and accuracy?
• Are corrective maintenance response times specified in the contract?
• Is module degradation rate specified?
• Are all service contracts and insurance policies kept up to date?
• Are all required operating permits, compliance documents, and licenses kept up-to-date?

A streamlined energy and utilities field service management strategy, built on a foundation of clearly defined field service operations, is crucial to ensuring that people have the right information at all times. With a more thorough data foundation, field teams are better equipped to make situational decisions. FSM software helps ensure that people have access to relevant information at the right time – customer contact details, job history, traffic conditions, etc. Moreover, these systems establish a real-time feedback loop between administrative teams such as field service dispatchers and professionals in the field. With a streamlined line of communication, decision-driving teams and service managers are always in the loop.

The idea is to create established processes for operations and maintenance (O&M) to reduce risks.

“An effective O&M program enhances the likelihood that a system will perform at or above its projected production rate and cost over time,” writes NREL. “ Therefore, it reinforces confidence in the long-term performance and revenue capacity of an asset. Historically, O&M practices and approaches have not been standardized, and instead, they were implemented in various proprietary methods. This approach can increase the cost to projects and portfolios, as well as raise the perception of risk from investors.”

Openness and transparency prevent critical details from falling through the cracks. With this infrastructure, teams can make more informed decisions in the field.

Why should energy companies prioritize preventive maintenance?

Recent disaster events, such as the wildfires in California, have made it clear that all energy companies need to make preventive maintenance a priority, for this they will need to have preventive maintenance software. To protect employees, the public, and core business interests, equipment needs to be running smoothly at all times. The ideal software will help streamline this process.

For instance, Praxedo makes it possible to set up regular maintenance plans, to better utilize resources. This proactive approach helps minimize emergency repairs while ensuring that all systems are compliant with industry standards. Leading service companies in energy and utilities are using Praxedo to lengthen the life of their equipment, limit repairs, and ultimately improve customer satisfaction.

The key goal for energy and utilities companies is to provide services to customers with zero interruption. Sustaining a well-managed network, with regular maintenance to avoid interruptions, is a must.

For example, to help support the preventive maintenance process, NREL follows a specific checklist for photovoltaic (PV) systems.

“Preventive maintenance must be balanced by financial cost to the project. Therefore, the goal is to manage the optimum balance between cost of scheduled maintenance, yield, and cash flow through the life of the system,” writes NREL. “Preventive maintenance protocols depend on system size, design, complexity, and environment.”

Best practices exist for different types of energy sources including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Preventive maintenance software can help ensure standardized processes for each type of system. An effective work order management system ensures that a historical record exists for every piece of equipment, so field technicians have a clear and transparent line of sight into potential problems.

Final thoughts

Field service management software is crucial to your renewable energy maintenance approach of the system.. It’s essential to choose energy maintenance technologies that orchestrate people and processes around a common objective.

The right energy maintenance solutions partner will already have deep experience in your industry and operate as a guide. If you’re looking for more resources before making a commitment, you can read some of our helpful guides on the Praxedo resource hub. You can also learn more by taking a product tour.

Great partners care about your success and will actively contribute towards outcomes in your business.

FAQs:

1. Why is safety so critical in renewable energy maintenance?

Field technicians operate high-voltage equipment in many remote or elevated locations, where a mistake can endanger workers, the public, and grid reliability.

2. How does field service software improve renewable energy safety?

It provides technicians with equipment history, site hazards, and job instructions before they arrive, and keeps dispatchers up to date on field conditions as they change.

3. What is an O&M program in renewable energy?

Operations and maintenance programs are standard procedures for tracking, servicing, and documenting the performance of energy systems to ensure reliability and minimize operational risk.

4. Why is preventive maintenance important for energy companies?

It helps to maintain equipment reliability, avoid expensive emergency repairs, comply with regulations, and minimize the risk of failure during extreme weather or peak demand.

5. How does work order management support renewable energy maintenance?

It provides a full history of each piece of equipment, allowing technicians to see patterns of problems and predict issues before they occur, preventing outages.

6. Do maintenance protocols differ across solar, wind, and hydro systems?

Yes, every energy source has its own best practices depending on the size, design, complexity, and environment of the system, and preventive maintenance software helps to standardize these practices.