Finding Faults Faster: Practical Failure Localisation and AI for Cost-Effective PV O&M
IEA PVPS Task 13 Workshop at Solar Quality Summit Europe 2027
Date: Wednesday, 24 February 2027
Time: 09:10–11:40 CET
Location: Barceló Málaga, Málaga, Spain
Event: Solar Quality Summit Europe 2027
About the Workshop
How can new inspection technologies and artificial intelligence help detect PV system faults faster and reduce operation and maintenance (O&M) costs?
IEA PVPS Task 13 is organising a workshop at Solar Quality Summit Europe 2027 to explore new approaches to identifying and locating faults in PV systems, with a particular focus on advanced characterisation methods and AI-supported inspection and maintenance.
Although PV systems are generally highly reliable, identifying faults across large installations can be time-consuming and costly. In some cases, locating a failure requires more resources than repairing it. Conventional inspection techniques may also struggle to detect certain safety-relevant defects.
Building on findings from the IEA PVPS Task 13 report Degradation and Failure Modes in New Photovoltaic Cell and Module Technologies, the workshop will examine emerging solutions for detecting difficult-to-identify module faults, including insulation failures, defective bypass diodes and glass breakage.
The programme will also explore the potential of AI and automated workflows in PV O&M, distinguishing practical applications from current limitations. An interactive session and industry panel discussion will address how these technologies can be integrated into everyday O&M processes and contractual frameworks.
Who should attend?
The workshop is aimed at EPC companies, O&M service providers, PV designers and engineers, asset owners, investors, testing laboratories, standardisation bodies and researchers.
Workshop Programme
Part 1 – New Methods for Locating Relevant Failure Modes in the Field
Chair: Ulrike Jahn, Fraunhofer CSP, Germany
09:10–09:15 | Introduction
Ulrike Jahn, IEA PVPS Task 13
09:15–09:30 | The Current State of O&M Practice: An Industry Perspective
Ioannis Tsanakas, CEA INES, France
09:30–09:45 | New detection methods for hard-to-find module faults, such as insulation faults, defective bypass diodes and glass breakage
Marc Köntges, ISFH, Germany
09:45–10:00 | Drone-Based Luminescence Inspection: From Data Acquisition to the Final Report
Sergiu Spartaru, DTU, Denmark
10:00–10:10 | Questions and Discussion
10:10–10:15 | Break
Part 2 – AI Use Cases in the PV Sector
An interactive session exploring current and potential AI applications in PV O&M, with audience participation and discussion of future scenarios.
Chair: Marc Köntges, ISFH, Germany
10:15–10:30 | Generative AI and Automated Workflows for O&M
David Moser, BII, Italy
10:30–11:00 | AI in O&M – Fact or Hype?
Sandra Gallmetzer, EURAC Research, Italy, and Magnus Herz, TÜV Rheinland, Germany
11:00–11:10 | Break
Part 3 – Integrating New Inspection and AI Methods into O&M Processes and Contracts
Chair: Niki Fodor, SolarPower Europe, Belgium
11:10–11:40 | Industry Panel Discussion
What is needed to integrate advanced inspection technologies and AI into routine O&M practice? Industry representatives will discuss practical implementation, acceptance testing, decision criteria and contractual considerations.
Further Information
The workshop takes place as part of Solar Quality Summit Europe 2027, held on 23–24 February 2027 in Málaga, Spain.
For further details about the summit and participation, please visit the Solar Quality Summit Europe 2027 website.