Solar Power's Battery Challenge: Lack of Visibility Leads to Expensive Maintenance
Solar power, a renewable energy source, is increasingly adopted by various industries like oil and gas, wastewater management, and utilities, particularly for remote monitoring and data transmission. However, maintaining solar-powered systems, especially batteries, poses challenges due to their dependence on sunlight availability and the need for regular replacements. Industry leaders express concern about the lack of visibility into battery performance, leading to expensive maintenance and safety hazards.
Battery performance in solar-powered systems is critical yet unpredictable. It depends on sunlight availability, which can be inconsistent due to weather conditions and time of day. Current optimization methods do not account for equipment deterioration or changing power requirements. Battery failure can cause safety hazards and halt production, necessitating expensive preventive measures. Regular replacements, callouts, and lockups are costly and unpredictable.
To address these issues, a company is developing a patent-pending system to improve the performance of remote overvoltage systems and reduce maintenance costs. Additionally, FreeWave's remote solar power system manager aims to provide complete visibility of solar-powered field operations, helping to mitigate maintenance costs and enhance safety.
Solar power's role in major industries is expanding, but maintaining its batteries remains a challenge. Improving battery performance and visibility is crucial for its wider adoption and efficiency as a renewable energy source. Innovative technologies are emerging to tackle these issues, promising to reduce maintenance costs and enhance safety in solar-powered systems.
