A power supply is a golden thread that connects three facets of sustainability: economic prosperity, social progress, and living within environmental constraints. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest concentration of people without access to modern energy, with rural people in general and low-income people, in particular, suffering the most.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, just 36% of rural residents have access to electricity, compared to 85% in developing Asia. Technology has advanced at a considerably faster rate in recent years than it did a few years ago. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have modified energy equipment, and in some cases, completely changed the machines and technology that drive them, as a result of this trend. OEMs are mostly based in wealthy countries with the financial resources to do so. OEMs are largely domiciled in developed countries which have the capacity to deal with issues of rapid changes in technology. In addition, the maintenance and at times, the required regular calibration become more problematic compared. In spite of this, there is a need to procure durable and quality solar equipment in Africa to replenish our power source. The Energy Power Africa (EPA) recognised that in today's situation, industrial and commercial organizations are turning to solar arrays and industrial PV systems to avoid power outages caused by grid supply concerns.

EPA team engages in solar equipment operations, procurement and maintenance to solve your energy problem. We recognised the fact that solar power panels are quickly becoming the norm rather than an option in the paper, steel, chemical, textile, cement, dairy, and ceramic industries. Solar operations, procurement and maintenance are our first priority as it becomes essential to maximize the performance of the solar grid and secure its energy security. EPA acknowledges that most solar equipment operation, procurement, and maintenance (OPM) necessitate periodic inspections. This puts us on alert to respond to the community's and businesses' calls regarding their solar operations, procurement and maintenance. The frequency and extent of solar array monitoring and solar panel maintenance are determined by the type of commercial solar installation, system setup, and location. We ensure that your set of solar arrays is efficient and up to the task to deliver the best of what you require in solar energy.

OPM accounts for a small fraction of a solar plant's development and operation expenditures over its lifetime. Size, design, equipment/components/moving parts, location, corporate interests and orientations, adopted OPM techniques with varying levels of rigour, and contractual arrangements all contribute to the large range of data points (e.g., length, stipulated responsibilities, price structure). There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all strategy for creating an OPM except when facing some challenges which hinder the functionality of the solar system.




Challenges

In Africa, the greatest obstacles to equipment OPM are either administrative, such as a lack of regulations, guidelines, and financing, or technical, such as a lack of competence or preventative maintenance schedules. Engineering firms are tasked with developing the human resources needed to run engineering firms in all areas and disciplines, including designs, constructions, processing, manufacturing, and water and electricity supplies. In order to stay relevant in light of rapid changes in technology and industrial processes, a reputable organization that can acquire materials for electrification in line with the needs of African enterprises is required.

Managing Procurement

Materials and services are necessary for the operation and maintenance of a power plant, and their proper procurement contributes to safety and reliability. An effective management system provides essential defence in depth for energy power plant safety and the prevention of accidents. A strong management commitment to safety and a strong safety culture should be part of such a system. Figure 1 is a standard model demonstrating how a management system can help an organization achieve a healthy safety OPM. Ensure that solar plant materials are of high quality and dependable as part of the management system's efforts.

Processes involved in Operations, procurement and maintenance (OPM) Approaches

To avoid breakdowns production losses, EPA offers preventative maintenance (PM) which entails routine inspection and servicing of equipment at a frequency, set by equipment type, environmental circumstances, and warranty terms in an OPM services agreement. This strategy has been so effective that we embark on it for communities and businesses to maintain an uninterrupted power supply throughout the year. EPA makes use of the preventative OPM because of its anticipated potential to reduce the likelihood of unplanned PV system downtime for our clients. However, the expenditures of PM initiatives are low, and we structure it efficiently to ensure a sustainable power supply anytime, any day as being programmed

Another method used by EPA for efficient OPM is the corrective or reactive maintenance used to handle equipment repair or replacement indeed be. At EPA, nothing is a waste and we help you repair solar equipment if it can still function. EPA  with the minimum cost of maintenance helps you to save resources and fix the OPM problems, thereby avoiding unexpected downtime. This "break-fix" strategy, which has been our standard for decades, saves money upfront.

We also fix the OPM problem through condition-based maintenance (CBM). EPA uses this method to prioritize OPM tasks and resources based on real-time data. The greater efficiency, however, comes with a significant upfront cost due to the software and hardware needs for communication and monitoring. Furthermore, the relative newness of CBM might provide maintenance issues, which are exacerbated by monitoring equipment failure and/or inconsistent data connections.

Wiring/Electrical Inspection: We carry out inspection of wires, junction boxes, combiner boxes, AC/DC disconnects, service panels, and other components, as well as string testing to ensure an efficient OPM. The cost of this varies and depends on whether the inspection covers 10% or 100% of the plant, among other factors. Visual, thermal scanning, and current-voltage energy data analysis are all part of our inspection of the solar plant wiring and electrical connections. EPA energy experts and professionals often inspect modules visually for cracks and other problems. We also inspect wiring behind the panels, as well as the junction boxes, combiner boxes, AC/DC disconnects, service panels, and other items. EPA will handle your electrical wiring from scratch to the end and ensure protected wiring for preventive measures. Our company will fix your wiring insulation and provide an efficient power source and networking.

Inverter Replacement: EPA engages in inverter replacement to fulfil our OPM service. We engage in durable and quality inverters to supply constant electricity to the communities and businesses that we serve. We deal in different utility-scale inverter sizes and types. Central inverter equipment procured by EPA will need to be replaced after 10 to 12 years of lifespan. However, EPA acknowledges that with consistent maintenance, central inverters can operate for longer than predicted, resulting in over-budgeting.

Spares:  To ensure a high degree of plant uptime, We supply our clients with a variety of equipment spares and store them on-site or in a nearby warehouse. However, plant size, geographic location, contractual constraints, and management philosophy all influence the amount and kind of spares retained, as well as the accompanying expenses. Fuse, contacts, wire, inverter parts (circuit boards, filters, fans, etc.), disconnect switches, and modules are among the most important spares to have on hand.

 

Processes involved in the maintenance of solar power systems

Perhaps, little you may know that your solar equipment needs maintenance for efficient energy production and for you to derive maximum satisfaction for what you have spent your hard-earned currency to acquire. You deserve to enjoy your solar system to give you optimal satisfaction. EPA ensures that you derive utility from each penny you spent on your solar system. This is the reason why you need to perform an energy audit of your solar system. Oh! You do not know what is meant by energy audit? Do not worry, you have EPA by your side and we are 24/7 available to attend to your need. An energy audit is a survey and analysis of energy flows in a building with the purpose of energy conservation. It could involve a technique or system that reduces the amount of energy input while maintaining the system's output. It is a way of using your solar system efficiently so that you do not waste the energy you paid for unnecessarily. At EPA we are excellently good at what we do, this is why we do not just obtain energy equipment from roadside sellers or African situated markets. We are affiliated to the European and American manufacturers, Pylontech, Schneider, Fullriver; Index-Exide; and Deka which gives many years of warranty on solar equipment we procure. For this reason, our clients rest assured that their energy OPM is of quality and high standard. Moreover listed below are the popular packages that encompass processes in the maintenance of your solar panels and solar power plants:

Who performs solar panel OPM?

Solar PV systems’ maintenance processes are best carried out by qualified and professional installers who are conversant with PV components and their safety procedures. The Energy Project Africa (EPA) is often involved directly in OPM for African communities and businesses' uses. This is accomplished with the affiliation of energy equipment manufacturers for African use. The procurement is actualized by EPA from our European and American manufacturers, Pylontech, Schneider, Fullriver; Index-Exide; and Deka which focus on developing quality and high standard energy equipment for the whole world. Many African communities and businesses are hampered by insecure and unsustainable supplies, as well as excessive electricity prices. We are proud to be a Nigerian firm, and we aspire to construct a future in which the energy OPM becomes more cost-effective, innovative, and competitive; we develop products that help both the communities and businesses in Africa. EPA takes care of solar equipment OPM services that range from PV maintenance processes that include:

Carrying out visual inspections
Conducting verifications of the PV system operations
Taking corrective actions
Monitoring and verifying how effective the corrective actions are.




Services provided by EPA as solar panel maintenance companies As far as solar systems’ uptime management is concerned, the EPA involved in solar equipment operation, procurement and maintenance offer:

Data interpretation and collection of data in real-time
Monitoring of energy production on a consistent basis
Critical as well as non-critical repairs
Analysis of trends and KPIs in order to ensure continuous improvement
Selection of specific key performance indicators to minimize cost while delivering the best possible system performance in the face of varying conditions
Management of inventory, spare parts, etc.
The tracking of solar power generation logs and updating document service histories
Identification of safety issues.

EPA provides 24/7 customer support via our network operations centre. We provide in-depth business insights in the form of value-added services to our corporate customers and industry-based clients as a company that takes responsibility for monitoring operations and managing solar rooftop upkeep. The necessity for regular and optimal solar system management has made it necessary for African communities and enterprises to rely on the EPA's solar energy OPM expertise. We undertake highly standard OPM at EPA with our engineers, who have received thorough solar maintenance training and are well qualified to maintain solar systems and perform corrective measures as needed. EPA performs automatic as well as efficient system assessments to ensure that solar power plants are appraised in accordance with international standards, thanks to years of field training. When your solar isn't performing as intended, our constant monitoring and inspections ensure prompt action. In general, our OPM teams handle all areas of solar power plant maintenance, ensuring that the plant runs well and that our clients receive uninterrupted power.

 

Energy Project Africa is a leading renewable energy business in Lagos, Nigeria with expertise in procurement of energy equipment, energy audit and feasibility solutions for mini-grid and solar farms. Supply by EPA provides solar products and equipment for corporate and institutional clients for the project and operational needs. If you need a partner with hands-on local expertise in the renewable energy space or any of our bespoke solutions/services, kindly visit https://www.energy-projects.africa/ourservices/corporate-sourcing-and-procurement/  to learn more.