Today on the Clean Power Hour we explore the world of data-driven strategies for supercharging solar O&M (operations and maintenance) with expert guests Alex Nussey, CEO of Wattch and Trish Graf, VP of Sales at Omnidian.
The conversation kicks off by exploring the current state of monitoring and analytics in distributed generation (DG) solar, with a focus on commercial, industrial, and small utility-scale projects. Alex and Trish shed light on the challenges faced by the rapidly growing solar industry, including limited resources (financial and human) and the need for efficient asset management.
The guests discuss how modern technologies, like Wattch's monitoring and intelligence platform (www.Wattch.io ) are revolutionizing O&M practices. They explain how these tools provide a "single pane of glass" view of diverse portfolios, enabling operators to quickly identify and prioritize issues across geographically dispersed assets.
A key topic covered is the importance of remote issue detection and diagnosis. The experts share insights on how advanced analytics can sift through vast amounts of data to pinpoint problems, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming site visits. They emphasize the industry's need to move away from reacting to every fault code and instead focus on high-impact events that truly affect performance.
The conversation also touches on the evolution of performance guarantees in the solar industry. Trish explains Omnidian's unique approach, offering a 95% non-weather adjusted performance guarantee, and discusses how this compares to traditional availability guarantees.
Towards the end, the panel explores the growing integration of energy storage with solar projects and the new challenges this presents for monitoring and O&M. They highlight the increased complexity and the critical importance of battery performance during peak demand events.
This episode provides valuable insights for asset owners, developers, and O&M providers looking to optimize their solar portfolios and adapt to the changing landscape of renewable energy management.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nussey/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishgraf/
http://www.wattch.io/
http://www.omnidian.com/
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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. CPS America has offices in California, New Jersey, and Texas. Learn more at https://www.chintpowersystems.com/
00:00 Introduction and Overview
02:36 Meet Alex Nussey from Wattch
03:37 Meet Trish Graff from Omnidian
04:39 State of Monitoring and Analytics in Distributed Generation
9:56 Challenges of Managing Large DG Portfolios
15:47 Efficient Resource Allocation and Remote Diagnostics
24:49 Real-World Examples of Remote Issue Detection
30:21 How Wattch Analyzes Inverter Performance
34:28 How Omnidian helps Reducing Unnecessary Truck Rolls
42:22 Performance Guarantees in the Solar Industry
46:00 Types of Issues That Can Be Fixed Remotely
51:39 Monitoring Solar + Storage Projects
55:31 Deciding Between In-House vs Third-Party O&M
58:57 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
