Did you know a PV solar array can help remove snow? Even when a solar panel is covered in snow, some light still reaches the solar cells. That small solar production will generate heat and in turn, melt the snow around it. Once more of the panel is uncovered, it will absorb more sunlight, creating even more heat and eventually melting the snow. With PV solar, snow doesn’t stick around for long!

As the Solar Industry continues to grow, new technologies and solutions are developing for ensuring quality control across the PV system. One such solution is using Aerial Thermography to identify deficiencies within the array. Aerial Thermography can identify module hot spots, panels not plugged in, issues with the PV strings, and damaged material. Aerial Thermography can be more reliable than hand-held thermography at ground level. Solar industry leaders will aim to incorporate these changes into the industry to maximize the quality and service provided to customers.

Any customer looking to build a commercial or industrial solar array uses PV Production Modeling to estimate their system’s Annual Production. With this data, they are able to determine their return on investment and payback period, i.e. “how long it will take for the system to produce enough electricity to pay for itself.” However, the accuracy of production modeling is affected by the accuracy of the weather data, 3D models, and equipment data the model uses. As the solar industry continues to grow and utilize new technologies, leading companies will continue to improve upon the accuracy of modeling to maximize their client’s return on investment.