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					</table>India’s solar operations and maintenance (O&amp;M) segment is moving beyond routine equipment servicing as developers and asset owners place greater emphasis on long-term generation performance, equipment availability, and operational reliability.
With service contracts extending to 10–12 years and hybrid and energy storage projects becoming more common, O&amp;M providers face growing demand for predictive maintenance, specialized engineering support, and lifecycle cost management.
The expanding operational base of utility-scale and open access solar projects is supporting the demand for O&amp;M services, according to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/top-solar-project-operations-maintenance-service-providers-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom’s India Solar Market Leaderboard 2026 Report</a>.
As more projects enter operation, the ability to minimize downtime, identify performance losses, and maintain generation over the project lifecycle is becoming increasingly important.
From Routine Maintenance to Performance Accountability
Customer expectations have evolved over the past three to five years, with O&amp;M increasingly being viewed as a function that directly affects project revenues and asset performance, rather than a service limited to post-commissioning maintenance.
According to Anandaraj R, co-founder and CEO of <a href="https://inspire-ce.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inspire Clean Energy</a>, customers are no longer just asking who will build the facility, but who will ensure that it continues to deliver for the next 25 years.
“Ten years back, O&amp;M meant module cleaning, a few technicians and a breakdown register. Today, independent power producers, commercial and industrial (C&amp;I) unit owners, Infrastructure Investment Trusts and funds want one party accountable for generation, availability, compliance and reporting.”
Simarpreet Singh, Executive Director and CEO, <a href="https://hartek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartek Power</a>, attributes the change to three developments: the need for dependable O&amp;M support to minimize downtime; greater emphasis on detecting performance deviations and the increasing adoption of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hybrid projects; and the demand for predictable cash flows supported by long-term technical services.
AI and Automation in O&amp;M
Artificial intelligence (AI), automated inspections, and remote monitoring are helping O&amp;M providers identify equipment faults, detect performance losses, and improve maintenance planning.
Chandrakant Sharma, Co-founder of <a href="https://www.enernovaglobal.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enernova Global</a>, said the renewable energy industry is increasingly turning to AI and Internet of Things technologies to automate equipment inspections, monitor individual solar panel performance, and improve asset management.
Enernova Global has developed an AI-based tool to forecast compliance and manage renewable energy assets.
“The tool can calibrate real-time data from the project and analyze patterns and provide forecasts with 40 to 45% higher accuracy than the solutions currently available in the market,” Sharma said.
Shrikant Soni, Deputy General Manager, <a href="https://kalpapower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kalpa Power</a>, highlighted the use of cloud-based Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) platforms for round-the-clock remote monitoring, real-time alerts, and performance tracking.
These platforms monitor parameters such as performance ratio, capacity utilization factor, and plant availability.
“String-level performance analysis, IV curve analysis and degradation assessments can help detect faults that may not be immediately visible, while thermal imaging and drone inspections make it easier to identify hotspots and module defects across large sites,&#8221; he added.
However, digital monitoring alone does not improve plant performance unless identified problems are addressed promptly.
Mukesh Kapoor, O&amp;M Head, <a href="https://www.mitarsh.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitarsh Energy</a>, said, “The success of these technologies will depend on data quality, system integration, skilled personnel and their ability to deliver practical improvements in performance.”
Agreeing, Singh added that predictive maintenance would deliver value only when digital alerts translate into timely corrective action.
“Investment in skilled technicians, spare parts availability and responsive field teams will therefore remain as important as the technology itself.”
The Economics of Long-Term O&amp;M
The growing emphasis on long-term performance is changing how developers assess O&amp;M costs. Rather than focusing primarily on contract prices, asset owners are evaluating how maintenance quality affects lifetime generation, equipment availability, and project returns.
Recurring faults or delayed repairs can reduce energy output, making preventive maintenance and timely fault resolution commercially important.
According to Singh, storage-backed projects introduce additional cost considerations, including battery degradation, thermal management, power conversion equipment, and eventual augmentation or replacement. These requirements need to be incorporated into lifecycle planning rather than addressed only when equipment problems arise.
Anandaraj also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between controllable generation losses and grid-related curtailment.
“Curtailment adds to the challenge. While project owners cannot control grid-related constraints, they can ensure that generation losses within their control are minimized and that every hour of externally imposed curtailment is recorded.”
Performance-linked contracts, which may include availability and performance ratio guarantees, can involve higher upfront costs but provide stronger incentives to maintain generation and minimize avoidable losses.
&#8220;One of the benefits is higher generation. Early fault detection, regular module cleaning and quicker response times can help improve the project&#8217;s daily output. Even a small improvement in generation, sustained over a 25-year project life, adds up to a meaningful number of additional units,” said Soni.
Consistent generation and fewer unplanned shutdowns can also improve revenue predictability and reduce operational risk.
Equipment Compatibility and Regulatory Compliance
Rapid changes in solar module technology and domestic sourcing requirements are creating additional challenges for long-term O&amp;M planning, particularly when the older equipment needs to be replaced.
India&#8217;s cumulative solar module capacity <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-adds-50-6-gw-solar-module-and-9-7-gw-cell-manufacturing-capacity-in-1h-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stood</a> at 261.7 GW in the first half of 2026, and cell manufacturing capacity at 36.6 GW.
While the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) framework and domestic content requirements govern sourcing across project categories, O&amp;M providers must also consider equipment availability, technical compatibility, and applicable rules when replacing components.
Singh noted the challenge extends beyond regulatory compliance.
“From an EPC perspective, the challenge extends beyond regulatory compliance. Module dimensions, electrical characteristics and technology can change over a 10–12-year period, creating compatibility and warranty risks. Developers must therefore plan for critical spares, maintain equipment records and evaluate replacement options early.”
Anandaraj observed that the transition from older module technologies to TOPCon could make like-for-like replacements increasingly difficult.
“TOPCon is about 80% of ALMM-listed module capacity, and mono PERC is <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/state-solar-manufacturing-india-1h-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down</a> to about 4%. So, when a facility built in 2018 with 330 Wp modules needs replacements in 2030, where will the owner find a matching module? Replacing it with a 580 Wp TOPCon module will lead to mismatch, mounting and ALMM-compliance problems.”
The concern is not simply whether replacement modules are available, but whether they can be integrated into existing electrical configurations and mounting structures without affecting performance, warranties, or regulatory compliance.
Kapoor emphasized the importance of equipment-level documentation, advance spare parts planning, and coordination with original equipment manufacturers and project owners.
“These practices become increasingly important as contracts extend across multiple years and equipment technologies continue to evolve.”
Hybrid and Storage Projects Require Integrated O&amp;M
Hybrid, firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE), and round-the-clock projects are expanding the scope of O&amp;M beyond individual generation assets.
Unlike conventional standalone solar projects, these systems require coordination between different generation sources, battery storage, power conversion equipment, and energy management platforms to meet scheduled delivery requirements.
“For these projects, O&amp;M must extend beyond individual equipment to include generation forecasting, coordinated dispatch, battery health and safety, charge-discharge optimization, and compliance with scheduled power delivery. Solar and wind generation have different production patterns, making it essential to coordinate both sources with BESS to meet demand reliably. The challenge is how much energy a project generates and whether it can deliver the required power at the right time,” said Soni.
Kapoor believes future O&amp;M models would require multidisciplinary teams, integrated monitoring, clearly defined responsibilities across equipment interfaces and coordinated maintenance planning.
Skills and Service Capabilities Will Determine Future Growth
Over the next five to 10 years, customers will expect greater support from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies beyond project commissioning, including performance optimization, equipment replacement, and repowering.
Meeting these requirements will demand investment in technical expertise, digital monitoring, service infrastructure, and long-term spare parts planning.
“Companies will need to invest in skilled manpower, including electrical and mechanical technicians, specialized testing teams, SCADA and monitoring engineers, BESS specialists, wind technicians and safety professionals. Continuous training will be essential as equipment designs, operating procedures and safety requirements evolve,” said Kapoor.
EPC companies will also need to consider equipment maintainability, accessibility, and replacement requirements during project design rather than addressing these issues only after commissioning.
As India&#8217;s renewable energy portfolio becomes more complex, O&amp;M providers will increasingly be assessed on their ability to maintain generation, manage equipment performance, and support reliable power delivery throughout the project lifecycle.

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