# Solar PV Operations and Maintenance Market Expands

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/solar-pv-operations-maintenance/
- Published: 2014-01-12T04:03:13-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

**Solar PV operations and maintenance** became a larger business as utility-scale
solar fleets expanded. A 2013 GTM Research report projected rapid growth in the 
installed capacity requiring ongoing O&M services.

## Solar Growth Created a Long-Term Service Market

[⌊Utility-scale solar PV operations and maintenance market for large solar farms⌉⌊
Utility-scale solar PV operations and maintenance market for large solar farms⌉[

BOSTON, Nov. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Operations and Maintenance (O &M), the 
set of technical activities that enable power plants to produce energy in compliance
with investor expectations and applicable regulations, is a market that will triple
its current size by 2017. According to GTM Research’s new report, Megawatt-Scale
PV Plant Operations & Maintenance: Services, Markets and Competitors 2013-2017, 
Europe currently leads the space but Asia-Pacific markets will drive installations
over the next four years bringing the worldwide total to 146 gigawatts.

“In countries where new construction activity remains high or growing, little consideration
is given to O&M as a standalone business,” said report author Cedric Brehaut (Principal
at SoliChamba Consulting). “The market tends to treat it as an extension of project
development, EPC, or IPP activities.” Conversely, in markets where new construction
activity is low or decreasing, the industry quickly turns to O&M as a steady source
of income, as observed in Italy or Germany. The U.S. is making this transition earlier
than other markets, with the emergence of multiple independent O &M firms despite
continued growth in new plant construction.

The competitive landscape of the PV O&M market is country specific, with different
firms leading in each of the top solar markets. While the United States ranks sixth
in terms of current megawatt-scale installations, the top three providers (First
Solar, SunEdison, and SunPower) all primarily service the United States. Beyond 
the fast growth of the utility-scale PV industry in North America, the O &M market
is more concentrated in the U.S., while it appears highly fragmented in European
markets such as Germany and Italy.

Price and service tend to also vary across geographies, with variations as high 
as 100 percent between low-price markets like the U.S. and high-price markets like
Italy. “Interestingly, higher prices do not necessarily mean higher service levels”
commented Brehaut. “Instead, they are mostly driven by the local market value of
solar energy and the intensity of competition between O&M providers.”

The 220-page report contains O&M service levels and price ranges for six key PV 
countries, a global competitive landscape analysis, current market size and forecast
to 2017 for nine countries, and analysis of O &M activities, constraints and strategies.
Additionally, the report profiles 61 vendors across continents whose aggregated 
O&M fleet currently surpasses 16 gigawatts. For more information, visit [http://www.greentechmedia.com/research/report/MW-scale-PV-plant-operations-and-maintenance-2013-2017](http://www.greentechmedia.com/research/report/MW-scale-PV-plant-operations-and-maintenance-2013-2017)

Related: [how solar energy continues to reshape homes and the broader energy market](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/10/solar-energy-at-home-the-future-of-living-space/).

## Solar Plants Need More Than Installation

Modules may have few moving parts, but large plants still require inspection, vegetation
control, inverter service, cleaning, monitoring and electrical maintenance.

For more large-scale solar coverage, see our [renewable-energy market coverage](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/03/solar-and-wind-power-a-glimpse-into-the-future-of-renewable-energy/).

## Conclusion

As the solar industry matured, operations and maintenance became a business of its
own. Long-term performance depends on what happens after construction is finished.

Source: GTM Research report cited in the original article.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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