KYOCERA Solar Technical Service Center: Services with a bright future

A relatively large number of solar power installations were installed in Germany and Europe up until just a few years ago. However, the number of such plants being installed has dropped significantly ever since an amendment to the EEG (German Renewable Energies Act) came into effect in 2014. As a result, the number of companies specialising in the maintenance of solar plants has also decreased. Kyocera’s Solar Technical Service Center has 15 years of experience in maintaining and checking solar installations. It serves customers all across Europe, and has successfully developed and expanded its expertise in the following evaluation procedures for photovoltaic modules regardless of manufacturer.

Electroluminescence imaging

This is a contactless evaluation method that uses special cameras with infrared sensors. It can quickly detect damages such as microscopic fissures that are caused by hail, snow, PID (potential induced degradation) and transportation. This method is particularly suitable for detecting faults or defects that cannot be identified through visual inspection.

Thermography

This is also a contactless procedure that uses a special camera to take infrared images of the modules. It is suitable for detecting defective bypass diodes, faulty soldering joints and inactive PV modules or cells. Furthermore, the thermography procedure can check invertors, AC connections, fuses as well as DC wiring and connectors.

I-V curve measurement

I-V curve measurement is a tried-and-tested method of checking the performance of a solar installations. It determines the performance of either individual modules or an entire string. The measurement shows the current or actual capacity under real-world conditions while an analysis detects shading and/or defective modules at the same time.

Kyocera’s Solar Technical Service Center has also become an expert in invertors over the years and offers performance checks and grid analyses on site at the customer’s premises.

The Solar Technical Service Center offers services including evaluating, repairing and replacing invertors in collaboration with SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA) and Fronius. This collaboration ensures high-quality service when maintaining invertors and replacing defective ones.

“We are looking forward to exchanging information and expertise with SMA and Fronius for the Solar Technical Service Center. Our many years of experience in the solar industry will allow us to make this partnership a great success,” says Mr Rafael Schröer, Managing Director of Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH.

For more information about Kyocera: www.kyocera.eu