SOLARIS · Solar operational Lifecycle and Asset Reliability Intelligency System

In order to foster the development and integration of PV systems in Europe and beyond, more efficient, reliable and profitable operation and maintenance (O&M) strategies need to be found. In this context, SOLARIS will gather 15 partners (6 research-oriented partners, 8 industrial partners including 2 start-ups & 3 SMEs, and a municipality) for 48 months to develop and demonstrate a complete set of physical and digital tools for improved forecasting, operational performance and maintenance, resulting in high performance index (90%) and availability (>98%) of PV plants, and decreasing the levelised cost of energy by 10%. SOLARIS will provide operators with reliable forecasting (short and long-term weather and power production); accurate monitoring and inspection techniques through novel wind, dust and impedance sensing, as well as automated multi-spectral PV inspection using drones; early fault detection (incl. preventive maintenance); improved lifetime of strategic components through adapted responses (self-protection, power electronics’ reconfiguration, storage strategies); and energy trading via an AI-based tool. Demonstration data will be gathered in an IoT platform, feeding one of the main tools proposed to PV operators, i.e. the PV asset management software. All developments will be demonstrated and assessed in 8 use-cases (utility- and small-scale ground-mounted, rooftop, floating, agriPV) across Europe. Demonstration datasets and labelled data on the different use-cases, as well as long-term PV potentials for regions of demonstration will be shared publicly to foster developments of other initiatives. The uptake of SOLARIS developments will be enhanced by the wide dissemination of demonstration and assessment results to relevant stakeholders, i.e. PV systems owners and O&M firms, as well as technology providers. It will be further facilitated by the creation of a Stakeholder Forum, accompanying all developments towards commercialisation.