Solar PV health checks for commercial installations

Most commercial solar installations are left to run without regular independent assessment. Owners assume the system is working because it appears to be generating. But appearance and optimum performance are different things — and the gap between the two can be costing you money, creating compliance risk or both.

A Footprint Zero Solar PV Health Check gives you an independent, expert assessment of your installation: how it’s performing, whether it’s safe and compliant and what — if anything — needs attention. We use advanced diagnostic tools and draw on decades of solar engineering experience to give you a report that is clear, specific and actionable.

What a health check covers

• Real-time assessment of energy generation and system efficiency against expected output
• Inverter performance and condition review
• Panel condition check: soiling, shading, damage and degradation
• Electrical and safety compliance review in line with current UK regulations
• Fire safety assessment, including DC isolator condition and cable integrity
• Detailed reporting of any underperformance or faults, with prioritised recommendations
• Comparison of actual vs. projected generation with explanation of any shortfall

When should you get a health check?

• Your installation hasn’t been independently assessed since it was commissioned
• Your generation figures seem lower than expected
• Your system was installed several years ago and has never been properly reviewed
• You’ve recently acquired a property with an existing solar installation and want to understand its condition
• Your original installer is no longer in business
• You’re planning to sell or refinance a property and need documentation of solar asset performance

What happens after a health check?

We provide a written report with clear findings, prioritised recommendations and, where remedial work is needed, a costed plan for getting your system back to full performance. We can then carry out any recommended work and, if required, take over ongoing solar management so the situation doesn’t recur.

Solar PV Health Check – Case Study

Footprint Zero recently inspected a solar installation from 2013, which highlighted some major risks that could have been avoided with proper installation, including: Faulty DC Connectors, UV Damage to Cables, Improper Panel Placement, Poor Cable Management and Compromised Roof Structure. Due to the severe safety concerns, our immediate recommendation was to turn the system off to avoid any potential fire or structural failure. Read more about the solar PV risks discovered at this installation through a Solar PV Health check.