Rethinking Solar O&M: Why Current Cost Models Fall Short

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Rounak Kharait, E3's Executive Director of Solar, and Daniel Tarico, E3's Director of Renewables, discuss solar O&M cost models, suggesting that they need to be changed and made more realistic to reflect the true lifecycle maintenance requirements of utility-scale projects. Some of the highlights of the podcast are shown below:

• Daniel brings expertise from metallurgy, construction, and tracker manufacturing to solar O&M discussions
• Early solar financing models incorrectly assumed minimal maintenance would be needed throughout project lifetimes
• Solar plants experience increasing failure rates and maintenance costs as they age, similar to automobiles or other mechanical products
• Standard assumptions ignore the wear-out aspect of aging equipment
• Without the ITC, economic models must shift to focus on long-term performance and realistic maintenance budgeting
• Projects in markets where production is the primary value driver need more accurate revenue and OPEX models
• Major equipment can last a long time if designed well and properly maintained

If you have questions or suggestions for future podcast topics, please reach out at to us at [email protected]. The full white paper on this topic is available for download on our website .