Australia has spent the past decade installing solar panels at an incredible rate. From residential rooftops to large commercial buildings and solar farms, billions of dollars have been invested in generating renewable energy.
But while the industry has been focused on installing more solar, there's a question that hasn't received nearly enough attention.
Who's looking after all these systems once they're installed?
It's a question that will be discussed at All Energy Australia 2026, where Solar Shine Australia's Founder and Managing Director, Andrew Barrington, will chair a panel of industry professionals exploring the importance of solar maintenance, monitoring and extending the life of existing solar installations.
What We're Seeing in the Field
For Solar Shine Australia, the need for better maintenance practices isn't theoretical. It's something the team encounters regularly while inspecting and maintaining solar systems across NSW.
During a recent multi-site solar inspection project, the team identified a 90 kW solar system that had been offline for nearly three months without the issue being addressed.
At another location, nine large bags of leaves were removed from beneath the solar panels. Across the portfolio, inspectors encountered heavy lichen growth, damaged components and systems that appeared to have received little attention since installation.
Perhaps more concerning were sites where monitoring equipment had been installed, but the information wasn't being actively reviewed.
These aren't necessarily complicated problems to identify or address. In many cases, routine inspections and monitoring could have picked them up much earlier.
And these issues aren't limited to one type of installation. Similar problems can be found across residential, commercial and large-scale solar systems.
Solar panels are designed to operate for decades, but that doesn't mean they can be installed and forgotten about.
Bringing the Maintenance Industry Together
On Thursday, 29 October, industry professionals will come together at All Energy Australia in Melbourne for a panel discussion titled
Maximising Solar Asset Performance Through Maintenance, Monitoring & Stewardship.
Chaired by Andrew Barrington, the session will bring together specialists working across different areas of solar maintenance:
- Daniel Lazarus – Industrias Services Group, bringing experience in maintenance technology, monitoring and system performance.
- Joel Firth – Brighter Solar Cleaning, discussing commercial solar cleaning and robotic maintenance technology.
- John Johnston – Spartan Solar Farm Cleaning, sharing experience in large-scale solar maintenance and inspections.
- Diana Latorre Espinosa – Plascare, contributing insights into bird proofing and protecting solar installations from environmental risks.
The discussion will cover the practical challenges of maintaining solar systems, how technology is changing maintenance practices and what the industry can do to improve the long-term performance of existing installations.
It will also look at the environmental consequences of premature solar system failures.
With solar panel waste expected to become an increasingly significant issue as Australia's installed systems age, extending the working life of existing equipment should be an important part of the conversation.
Changing the Way We Think About Solar Maintenance
Join Us at All Energy Australia 2026
Session: Maximising Solar Asset Performance Through Maintenance, Monitoring & Stewardship
Date: Thursday, 29 October 2026
Time: 11:10 AM – 12:40 PM
Location: Room 204, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
The session is relevant to solar installers, asset owners, facility managers, operations and maintenance providers and anyone involved in managing solar infrastructure.
If you're attending All Energy Australia 2026, come along and be part of the discussion.
FAQs
Why is solar panel maintenance important?
Regular solar maintenance helps ensure systems continue operating safely and efficiently throughout their expected lifespan. Issues such as dirt build-up, lichen growth, damaged panels, loose components and inverter faults can affect performance if left undetected. Routine inspections, cleaning and performance monitoring can help identify problems early, reduce unnecessary energy losses and prevent minor issues from becoming costly repairs.
What will the solar maintenance session at All Energy Australia 2026 cover?
The session, Maximising Solar Asset Performance Through Maintenance, Monitoring & Stewardship, will explore preventative maintenance, solar cleaning technologies, performance monitoring, environmental risks and extending the operational life of solar installations. Industry experts will share practical experiences and discuss how better maintenance practices can improve solar asset performance and reduce premature equipment replacement.
Who is speaking at the All Energy Australia 2026 solar maintenance session?
The session will be chaired by Andrew Barrington, Founder and Managing Director of Solar Shine Australia. Panellists include Daniel Lazarus from Industrias Services Group, Joel Firth from Brighter Solar Cleaning, John Johnston from Spartan Solar Farm Cleaning and Diana Latorre Espinosa from Plascare. Together, they bring experience across solar monitoring, commercial cleaning, robotic maintenance, solar farm operations and bird proofing.
When and where is the solar maintenance session at All Energy Australia 2026?
The session will take place on Thursday, 29 October 2026, from 11:10 am to 12:40 pm, in Room 204 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It forms part of All Energy Australia 2026 and is relevant to solar installers, asset owners, facility managers, O&M providers and renewable energy professionals interested in improving the long-term performance of solar installations.
