SAPVIA releases best practice operations, maintenance guidelines

26th October 2021 By: Schalk Burger - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Industry body South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and Europe energy market organisation SolarPower Europe have released the 'Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Best Practice Guidelines for South Africa'. 

The guidelines build on SolarPower Europe’s 'European O&M Best Practice Guidelines' and adapt key recommendations to the South African context.

The guidelines were produced by industry leaders from across Europe and South Africa and will help local solar photovoltaic (PV) stakeholders better understand the importance of well-planned and implemented O&M of solar PV plants.

“The guidelines are designed to support stakeholders to easily identify and navigate any challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. The South African Edition will help improve the quality of O&M across utility, commercial and industrial solar PV plants,” said SAPVIA COO Niveshen Govender.

“Experience has shown that high-quality asset management, together with well-planned and implemented O&M, mitigates potential risks, improves the performance of solar PV plants and supports positive financial returns on the investment.”

SAPVIA is committed to developing and enhancing the solar PV sector in South Africa, ensuring that stakeholders across the value chain can benefit and leverage international best practice to develop quality, sustainable solar PV plants, he added.

“We are grateful to our partners SolarPower Europe and German development agency GIZ which continue to support the local South African solar PV market, especially through this latest joint-launch of the South African edition of O&M Best Practice Guidelines,” said Govender.

“It has been great to work with SAPVIA again on this project. It shows how solid our partnership is and the 39-strong taskforce is testament to how important the South African market is for European companies.

"Together we have delivered a pioneering document that will help professionalise asset healthcare and lower the cost of solar PV in South Africa,” SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger said.

The guidelines are a joint effort between SolarPower Europe and several solar PV experts active in South Africa and supported by the South-African German Energy Programme, or GIZ SAGEN, and SAPVIA.