Photovoltaic energy storage operation and maintenance cost analysis

What are the benchmarks for PV and energy storage systems?

The benchmarks in this report are bottom-up cost estimates of all major inputs to PV and energy storage system (ESS) installations. Bottom-up costs are based on national averages and do not necessarily represent typical costs in all local markets.

What is a life cycle cost and optimization of PV systems?

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Life-Cycle Cost and Optimization of PV Systems Based on Power Duration Curve with Variable Performance Ratio and Availability report provides a mathematical functional form for the annual power duration curve for the output of a photovoltaic power system with imperfect performance ratio and availability.

How are benchmark PV operations & maintenance costs estimated?

Benchmark PV operations and maintenance (O&M) costs are estimated using a model (Walker et al. 2020) that provides a line-item cost estimate of measures that correspond to the PV O&M services described in Best Practices for Operation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems, 3rd Edition (NREL et al. 2018).

Do photovoltaic systems need maintenance?

The expansion of photovoltaic systems emphasizes the crucial requirement for effective operations and maintenance, drawing insights from advanced maintenance approaches evident in the wind industry. This review systematically explores the existing literature on the management of photovoltaic operation and maintenance.

Why is maintenance management important for PV power plants?

Therefore, maintenance management is essential for reliable and effective operation of PV power plants, ensuring uninterrupted system operation and minimizing downtime. Compared to well-established technologies such as hydro, thermal, and wind, the O&M processes for PV systems are not yet fully structured in many operating companies .

Will California's New PV rules affect PV-plus-storage systems?

In the longer term, analysts expect the new rules to constrain PV-only deployment in California and ultimately spur the deployment of PV-plus-storage systems, which have higher upfront costs (Wood Mackenzie and SEIA 2022b). Our interviews also indicated market and policy trends affecting system costs between Q1 2022 and Q1 2023.