Beware the “Set and Forget” Mindset on Solar: Why Maintenance Matters
Solar Maintenance: The Key to Long-Term Performance and Safety
In the article, “Beware the ‘set and forget’ mindset on solar,” published by The Energy in September 2025, journalist Marion Rae highlights a critical issue: more than $1.3billion in annual solar performance is being lost across commercial installations due to a growing solar maintenance gap in solar Power Purchase Agreements.
Daniel Lazarus, CEO of Industrias Services Group, was cited in the article, pointing out that failures in hardware components such as mounting, cabling, isolators, and inverters are not just minor hiccups; they carry serious financial and safety consequences. He stresses that the problem is less about training or certification, and more about weak enforcement of quality standards across the industry.
Australia’s solar landscape has expanded rapidly. By the end of 2024, the country had installed over 40 gigawatts of solar capacity, with nearly 200 corporate PPAs signed, representing more than 10 gigawatts of contracted renewable energy. Despite these impressive figures, a large sample of sites still shows worrying levels of underperformance and safety concerns, representing billions of dollars of risk across the sector.
Problems such as soiling, inverter breakdowns, and wiring degradation can reduce energy generation by anywhere from five to thirty percent. These losses are compounded when issues go unnoticed due to insufficient monitoring or lack of physical inspections. Lazarus notes that maintenance is about much more than panel cleaning; it is about protecting the electrical integrity of the system and ensuring safety. This message was underscored by a major incident in 2024, when thousands of people were evacuated after a solar panel fire at Sydney Olympic Park, traced back to faulty rooftop isolators.
The article dismantles the popular perception of solar as a “set and forget” technology. Remote monitoring plays an important role, but it often misses physical faults such as water ingress, loose mounting, corroded screws, or failed inverter fans. These issues can quietly erode performance and, in the worst cases, create hazards.
Solar Assets are Dynamic
At Industrias Services Group, we agree wholeheartedly that there is no room for complacency when it comes to solar system maintenance. Solar assets are dynamic. They face environmental wear, mechanical stress, and electrical risks that demand active oversight. That is why we promote a layered approach to maintenance that brings together physical inspections, real-time monitoring, and predictive analysis.
Our process begins with scheduled site visits, which allow us to spot problems that digital systems cannot detect, such as cracks, corrosion, or structural fatigue, and identify issues before they become much larger and impactful. We combine this with continuous digital oversight to flag anomalies in system performance. Finally, we use predictive tools to anticipate component wear before it develops into a costly fault. This approach not only maximises energy output but also reduces downtime and enhances safety.
From Agreement to Assurance
As the solar market continues to mature and expand, the real measure of success will not only be the signing of contracts, but the ability to deliver on them safely and reliably. Maintenance should not be seen as an optional add-on, but as an essential part of every solar agreement.
Industrias Services Group is committed to closing the maintenance gap. Our goal is to transform solar from a technology that too often gets “set and forgotten” into one that is actively sustained, ensuring performance, safety, and peace of mind for years to come.
Read the full article in The Energy here: https://theenergy.co/article/beware-the-set-and-forget-mindset-on-solar