Five Steps to Explain How to Increase Power Generation for Beginners

When you want to increase the power generation of a solar power system, it is premature to immediately consider adding panels or replacing equipment. The reasons why generation does not improve are often due to multiple overlapping factors—shading, dirt, orientation, tilt, temperature, equipment condition, wiring, snow accumulation, lack of maintenance, and so on. When a beginner considers how to increase generation, it is important to first check the current generation data, then review on-site conditions, and finally determine the priority of improvement measures. In this article, so that operations staff can check without difficulty, we explain the basic procedures to increase generation divided into five steps.

Table of Contents

• How to increase power generation starts with isolating the causes

• Step 1: Check power generation by month and by time of day

• Step 2: Check for generation losses caused by shading and nearby obstructions

• Step 3: Check for factors reducing output: dirt, temperature, and snow

• Step 4: Review orientation, tilt, and layout to make the most of sunlight

• Step 5: Ensure equipment, wiring, and maintenance systems are in place to maintain power generation

• Decisions beginners should avoid when trying to increase power generation

• Summary

Increasing power generation starts with isolating the cause

When thinking about how to increase power generation, the first necessary step is to isolate why generation is not increasing. Even if you feel that power generation is low, you cannot choose the appropriate countermeasures unless you determine whether it is due to an equipment fault, natural variation from weather or seasonal changes, or shading or soiling.

Solar power generation is not a system that produces the same amount of electricity every day. When sunny weather continues, generation tends to increase, but when cloudy skies, rain, snow cover, typhoons, or prolonged rainy periods persist, generation decreases. In summer, solar radiation is high, but panel temperatures tend to rise and output can decline. In winter, daylight hours are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky, making shadows longer. Therefore, it is not appropriate to immediately conclude that there is an equipment fault just because generation is low for a single month.

The first thing beginners should check is the pattern of change in power output. Confirm whether the output has dropped suddenly, declined gradually, is low only in specific seasons, or is weak only during certain times of day. A sudden drop may indicate equipment shutdowns or faults in wiring or connections. If it is gradually decreasing, accumulated dirt, tree growth, equipment deterioration, or insufficient maintenance may be involved. If output falls significantly only in winter, check for shading or the effects of snow.

Measures to increase power generation vary depending on the cause. If shading is the cause, check the source of the shading and review the layout and surrounding maintenance. If dirt is the cause, consider inspection and cleaning methods. If temperature losses are large, check heat dissipation and installation conditions. If equipment malfunction is the cause, inspection and repair are necessary. If measures are taken without isolating the cause, power generation may not improve despite the effort.

Also, the objective of increasing power generation does not necessarily mean maximizing total generated energy. For facilities that prioritize self-consumption, it is important to secure generation during the periods when the generated electricity can be used within the facility. Simply increasing generation during times with large surpluses may not lead to an improvement in the effectiveness of the installation. When increasing generation, it is important to pay attention not only to how much can be generated but also to how much of that energy can be used.

Step 1: Check power generation by month and time of day

The first step to increase power generation is to check power generation by month and time of day. Looking only at the total annual power generation does not reveal where generation is being lost. Viewing it by month reveals seasonal factors causing declines, and viewing it by time of day can provide clues to shading and equipment malfunctions.

Looking at monthly power generation, you can see months with high generation and months with low generation. In spring and autumn, the balance of solar irradiance and temperature is favorable, so generation can be relatively stable. In summer, increased solar irradiance tends to boost generation, but rising panel temperatures can cause output reductions. In winter, shorter daylight hours and a lower solar elevation mean shadows from surrounding buildings, trees, and rooftop equipment tend to be longer. In snowy regions, snow covering the panels can create periods when no power is generated.

If monthly power generation is lower than expected, consider factors specific to that month. If it is low in winter, check for shading, snow cover, and shorter sunlight hours. If it is low in summer, check for temperature-related losses, soiling, high equipment temperatures, and output limitations. If it is low in spring, consider pollen and dust; if it is low in autumn, consider fallen leaves and bird shading. Reviewing monthly trends makes it easier to determine which countermeasures to prioritize.

Generation by time of day is also important. If morning generation is weak, shading on the east side may be the cause; if generation drops off early in the evening, shading on the west side may be the cause. If there is an unnatural dip around midday, you need to check for shadows from rooftop equipment or surrounding structures, equipment shutdowns, or output clipping. If generation is low all day, consider weather, soiling, equipment, wiring, or system-wide issues.

When reviewing power generation data, comparing it with the same month in the previous year or with the same season is also useful. Simply comparing to the previous month can lead to incorrect conclusions due to seasonal variations. For example, an increase in generation from winter to spring is a natural change, and a decrease from summer to autumn is not uncommon. Comparing with the same month in the previous year or with simulation values makes it easier to determine whether something is abnormal.

Beginners should first check when power generation is dropping, rather than the total power generation. Measures to increase power generation will be less wasteful if you identify the months or times of day when generation is lower before planning them.

Step 2: Check for power generation losses from shadows and nearby obstructions

Next, check for shadows and nearby obstructions. Because solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, their output decreases when shaded. Although the impact of shading can be large, it varies with the season and time of day, so it is a factor that beginners often overlook.

Causes of shading include surrounding buildings, rooftop equipment, roof penthouses, railings, piping, air-conditioning equipment, ventilation equipment, trees, utility poles, signs, slopes, and terrain elevation differences. In roof projects, shadows are more likely to be caused by rooftop equipment and adjacent buildings. In land projects, trees, utility poles, neighboring buildings, slopes, and surrounding structures are common causes of shading.

Shadows change with the seasons. In summer, because the sun's altitude is high, shadows are short and may appear to be no problem when observed on site. However, in winter the sun's altitude is low and shadows stretch much longer. If you judge based only on a summer on-site check, you may overlook winter shadows. If power output drops significantly only in winter, you need to check for winter shadows in addition to the shorter daylight hours.

Shadows also change depending on the time of day. In the morning, obstacles on the east side are more likely to cast shadows, while in the evening obstacles on the west side are more likely to do so. By looking at time-of-day generation data, if generation is low only in the morning or evening, you can estimate the direction from which the shadows originate. If there is a dip around midday, suspect shadows from roof-mounted equipment, rooftop structures, or piping near the panels.

To reduce power generation losses from shading, avoid shaded areas, reassess panel placement, consider managing trees, and avoid forcing the use of panels near obstructions. Even for already installed systems, it is important to check whether shading has increased due to tree growth or the addition of nearby equipment.

However, reducing the number of panels to avoid shading can lower the system’s installed capacity. Therefore, don’t judge based only on total energy generation; also check generation per unit of capacity and self-consumption. Rather than continuing to place panels in heavily shaded locations, effectively using less-shaded areas can improve actual generation and stability.

When considering shading countermeasures as a way to increase power generation, the important thing is not to eliminate shading completely but to accurately quantify the power generation loss caused by shading and address the areas with the greatest impact first. If power generation is not improving, first check at what times of day and over what areas the shading occurs.

Step 3: Check for reductions due to dirt, temperature, and snow

The third step is to check for reductions in power output caused by dirt, temperature, and snow. These may not be as easy to spot as shadows, but they are important factors that lower generation. To increase output, you need to keep the panels in a condition that allows them to receive sunlight readily and minimize environmental conditions that make generation more difficult.

Dirt occurs when sand and dust, pollen, fallen leaves, bird droppings, exhaust-derived grime, and particulate matter adhere to the panel surface. When panels become soiled, solar radiation has more difficulty reaching the panels, and power generation decreases. Dirt tends to accumulate in areas with many surrounding trees, near unpaved ground, on roads with heavy traffic, or close to facilities where dust is easily generated.

Dirt accumulates gradually, so declines in power output can be hard to notice. If only a particular surface has low output, if output doesn’t recover after rain, or if output struggles to increase in spring or autumn, check for dirt. When cleaning, prioritize safety and protecting the equipment, and avoid unsafe work on the roof or methods that could damage the panels.

Temperature-related output loss is also important. Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, but when panel temperature rises, output can decrease. In summer, while higher solar irradiance tends to increase power generation, panels also heat up more easily, so they may produce less than expected. Roofs can trap heat, and if airflow behind the panels is poor, temperature-related losses can become significant.

To minimize temperature loss, check installation conditions that promote heat dissipation. Verify whether air can flow behind the panels, whether nearby equipment is trapping heat, and whether grass or other obstacles are obstructing airflow. However, if you prioritize temperature measures alone and change the mounting height or angle, it can affect wind behavior, constructability, and installed capacity, so decisions should be made comprehensively.

In snowy regions, consider reductions in power generation due to snow. When snow accumulates on panels, they cannot receive sunlight, causing periods when no power is generated. Check whether the slope allows snow to slide off easily, where fallen snow will accumulate, and whether snow removal and inspections can be carried out. If winter power generation is lower than expected, it is necessary to consider the effects of snowfall, lingering snow, and snow accumulation.

Dirt, temperature, and snowfall each have varying effects depending on the season. To increase power generation, it is important to understand the seasonal factors that cause declines and to reflect them in inspections, cleaning, layout reviews, and maintenance planning.

Step 4: Reassess orientation, tilt, and layout to make the most of solar radiation

The fourth step is to review the orientation, tilt, and layout to more efficiently harness solar radiation. To increase power generation, panels need to receive as much solar radiation as possible. Major changes may be difficult for already installed systems, but this is an important consideration when installing new systems, expanding capacity, changing layouts, or re-evaluating roof surfaces and land areas.

Orientation affects the times of day when power is generated. Surfaces closer to south tend to achieve higher annual generation, but east- and west-facing surfaces also have roles. For facilities with high demand in the morning, east-facing generation can help with self-consumption, and for facilities with high demand in the afternoon, west-facing generation can be useful for self-consumption. It is important not only to choose the orientation that simply maximizes annual generation, but also to consider how it matches the facility’s electricity usage hours.

The tilt angle affects how sunlight is received throughout the seasons. Increasing the angle can make it easier to receive winter sunlight, but it also influences inter-row shading, wind effects, and installation spacing. Decreasing the angle can make it easier to place more panels, but dirt and snow are more likely to remain. The decision should be made by balancing power generation, constructability, and maintainability.

When reviewing the layout, it is important to prioritize areas with favorable conditions. For rooftop projects, prioritize surfaces with good orientation and minimal shading, and avoid forcing the use of areas around rooftop equipment, drains, or inspection walkways. For land projects, prioritize areas with less shading, good drainage, and that are easy to maintain. Even if total power generation increases by adding panels into poorly conditioned locations, efficiency may decrease.

When reviewing the layout, check the generation per unit of capacity. It is important not only to increase installed capacity to raise total generation, but also to assess how efficiently power can be generated with the same capacity. By avoiding shaded or otherwise poor-condition areas, total capacity may be slightly reduced, but actual effective generation and long-term stability can improve.

Also, changes in layout affect self-consumption. If the generation peak is too concentrated around midday, surplus may increase. Combining east- and west-facing surfaces can widen the generation time window and make it more likely to overlap with facility demand. When considering ways to increase generation, check not only the total generation but also when it occurs.

Step 5: Put equipment, wiring, and maintenance systems in place to maintain power generation

The fifth step is to organize equipment, wiring, and maintenance systems to maintain power generation. A solar power system is not made up of panels alone. The electricity generated by the panels is used within the facility after passing through wiring and power conversion equipment. If there are faults or losses anywhere, the amount of power generated and the usable electricity available may be reduced.

The condition of equipment needs to be checked regularly. Even if the panels are generating power, if the power conversion equipment has stopped or some circuits are not operating correctly, the amount of electricity actually usable will decrease. If generation suddenly drops, or if generation is low only during specific times or on particular circuits, the equipment and connection points should be inspected.

The condition of the wiring is also important. If wiring distances are long, connection points are difficult to inspect, or wiring routes are complex, the detection of losses or faults can be delayed. For new installations or expansions, it is important to rationally plan wiring routes and equipment locations and keep them in a state that is easy to inspect. For existing systems, include wiring and connection points among the items checked when power generation declines.

Maintenance arrangements are essential for maintaining power output over the long term. Check whether inspection walkways are provided, whether cleaning is possible, whether equipment is accessible, and whether drainage outlets and maintenance walkways are secured. Placing panels across the entire roof or arranging equipment across the entire site may make the initial power output look large. However, layouts that are difficult to maintain can delay responses to soiling and malfunctions, potentially reducing power generation in the long term.

After installation, regularly check actual power generation. Record monthly generation, generation by time of day, generation per installation surface, self-consumption, and surplus electricity, and compare them with expected values. If generation drops, being able to distinguish among weather, shading, soiling, snow accumulation, equipment outages, and changes in demand will allow you to respond more quickly.

When people think about increasing power generation, attention often shifts to adding or replacing equipment, but in reality establishing a maintenance system makes a major contribution to maintaining power output. Whether you want to improve the generation of existing equipment or introduce new equipment, it is important to consider the devices, wiring, and maintenance system together.

Decisions Beginners Should Avoid When Trying to Increase Power Output

What beginners should avoid when trying to increase power output is considering adding equipment without first checking the cause. If the low output is due to shading, dirt, or equipment shutdowns, on-site inspection or maintenance may be more effective than adding more panels. First confirm where the power is being lost and choose countermeasures that match the cause.

Also, you should avoid judging improvement solely by annual power generation. Even if annual power generation increases, if the increase simply becomes surplus, improvements in self-consumption and the effectiveness of the installation will be limited. When increasing generation, also check self-consumption, surplus electricity, and the timing of generation.

Be careful about forcibly adding panels in shaded areas or in locations that are difficult to maintain. Increasing the system capacity can make total generation easier to raise, but in places with significant shading the generation per unit of capacity may be lower. In layouts that are hard to maintain, responses to soiling and faults can be delayed, which can reduce generation over the long term.

Underestimating loss rates is also a problem. If you calculate the expected improvement without adequately allowing for losses such as temperature, soiling, snow, wiring, power conversion, and aging, the post‑installation results may differ from the expectations. Rather than making the simulated generation look favorable, it is important to verify realistic power generation figures that match the site conditions.

We want to avoid postponing the on-site survey. Drawings and aerial photographs alone may not allow an accurate understanding of rooftop equipment heights, tree shadows, piping, drainage, inspection routes, slopes, elevation differences, and other factors. To determine how to increase power generation, it is necessary to have an accurate grasp of the on-site conditions.

What matters for increasing power output is not trying seemingly promising measures one after another. It is to identify the cause that is reducing power output, select a measure appropriate to that cause, and compare data from before and after the improvement. Especially for beginners, calmly checking things in order is the quickest route to success.

Summary

When organizing how beginners can increase power generation, it is important to first understand the current situation, then isolate the causes that are reducing output, and then proceed with the highest-priority countermeasures. Solar power generation output varies due to many factors besides solar irradiance, including shading, soiling, temperature, snow accumulation, orientation, tilt, equipment, wiring, and maintenance practices.

In Step 1, check the power generation by month and by time of day. By identifying when generation falls, it becomes easier to infer causes such as shading, temperature, dirt, snow accumulation, and equipment malfunctions. In Step 2, check for shadows and nearby obstructions. Shadows in winter and at dawn and dusk, and shadows caused by trees or rooftop equipment, are major causes of reduced power generation.

In Step 3, check for factors that reduce output due to soiling, temperature, and snow. Soiling on panel surfaces, output reduction from high temperatures, and generation stoppages caused by snow affect electricity production seasonally. In Step 4, review orientation, tilt, and layout to maximize solar exposure. Check not only annual generation but also the compatibility between the facility's electricity usage hours and its generation hours. In Step 5, arrange equipment, wiring, and maintenance systems to sustain generation output. It is important to make the generated power usable on-site and to preserve generation output over the long term.

When trying to increase power generation, you should avoid considering adding panels or replacing equipment without confirming the causes, judging the effectiveness of improvements solely by annual power generation, and packing layouts without regard for shading or maintainability. To actually raise power generation, you need to accurately determine on-site what is reducing output and make improvements based on data.

And to reliably advance practical efforts to increase power generation, accurate on-site information is indispensable. If you can accurately grasp the installation area, rooftop equipment, obstacles, trees, site boundaries, orientation, slope, inspection routes, and potential connection points, it becomes easier to organize issues related to shading, soiling, wiring, and maintainability.

If you want to accurately record on-site installation ranges, obstacles, trees, rooftop equipment, site boundaries, orientation, tilt, inspection access routes, etc., and clarify improvement points to increase power generation, utilizing LRTK, an iPhone-mounted high-precision GNSS positioning device, is effective. If you can obtain high-precision on-site location information, it becomes easier to organize causes of shading, areas prone to soiling, feasible installation ranges, wiring routes, and maintenance access routes, and to consistently advance on-site verification for power generation improvement, simulation comparisons, and post-installation performance management. For beginners to correctly implement methods to increase power generation, it is important not only to take desk-based measures but also to accurately understand the site and appropriately address the causes that are reducing power generation.