The solar panels are guaranteed to operate for twenty-five years, but this does not rule out breakdowns. Govinda Upadhyay realised that the maintenance of large solar farms required more attention because of their expansion around the world. This led to the creation of SmartHelio at EPFL. This company has developed a system that aims to maximise electricity production by anticipating breakdowns and providing recommendations for improving efficiency.
According to Govinda Upadhyay, founder and CEO of SmartHelio, their system can identify more than 50 types of potential failure. Solar panels are exposed to various climatic conditions such as heat, humidity, dust and rain, which can cause problems. Using artificial intelligence, the programme analyses data specific to each solar farm, making it possible to predict and locate faults. This feature is attractive because it has a positive financial impact on electricity producers. By ensuring optimum performance, the system reduces the time needed to make solar panels profitable.
Discover the story of SmartHelio, which has been developing within the ecosystem of the canton of Vaud since 2019.