Webinar: Why solar plants underperform

Why solar PV plants underperform: identifying hidden energy losses and improving performance

Solar power plants are designed to deliver reliable electricity generation throughout their operational life. However, many utility-scale PV assets produce less energy than expected due to a combination of environmental factors, equipment degradation, technical defects, and operational inefficiencies.

These losses are not always apparent from routine performance monitoring. In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, persistent soiling, elevated module temperatures, shading, component degradation, and recurring equipment faults can gradually reduce energy yield, increase operational risk, and erode long-term asset value.

Join TÜV SÜD for a practical webinar exploring the most common causes of solar PV underperformance, methods for uncovering hidden energy losses, and diagnostic techniques that support effective corrective actions and improved plant reliability.

Key takeaways

• Identify hidden sources of energy loss
  Understand how environmental, technical, and operational factors can reduce actual plant output and impact project performance.

• Turn performance data into actionable insights
  Learn how generation data, irradiation measurements, performance ratio analysis, and field testing can be used to investigate unexplained underperformance.

• Support better asset management decisions
  Explore practical approaches for prioritising corrective actions, validating performance improvements, and protecting long-term project value.

What you’ll learn

Recognise the root causes of performance losses
Understand how soiling, high temperatures, shading, module degradation, inverter failures, electrical losses, and operational inefficiencies affect energy production and system performance.

Evaluate overall plant performance 
Learn how to analyse generation data, performance ratios, irradiation measurements, and operational records to distinguish expected losses from genuine underperformance.

Detect technical defects with advanced diagnostics
Explore how infrared thermography, I-V curve testing, and electroluminescence (EL) imaging can identify module defects, electrical issues, and hidden reliability concerns.

Optimise operations and maintenance (O&M)
Discover how O&M audits, failure analysis, and structured root-cause investigations can reduce downtime, prevent recurring issues, and improve operational performance.

Protect and enhance asset value
Learn how end-of-warranty assessments, performance evaluations, and targeted corrective actions can help maximise energy yield, extend asset life, and verify measurable improvements.

Who should attend

• Solar PV asset owners, investors, asset managers, and portfolio managers
• Independent Power Producers (IPPs), project developers, and EPC contractors
• Plant managers, O&M managers, operations teams, and field engineers
• Solar PV service providers, reliability engineers, and performance analysts
• Technical advisors, engineering consultants, and owner's engineers
• Warranty managers and asset performance specialists
• Banks, lenders, and technical due diligence professionals
• Energy, sustainability, and renewable energy professionals responsible for solar asset performance and investment decisions