Forensic Yield Analysis
Newquay Weather Station
8-Year Longitudinal Study | Coastal Reference Site
Standard monitoring systems see data; they don’t see reality. We partnered with Newquay Weather Station to conduct a forensic analysis of their coastal PV asset. The objective was rigorous: ingest 8 years of raw telemetry to reconstruct a precise performance signature.
Situated in a harsh coastal environment, the asset faced salt corrosion, high wind loads, and complex horizon shading. The challenge was to separate unavoidable environmental losses from addressable technical faults, providing a clear roadmap for intervention.
The Investigation: Separating Signal from Noise
Using the Lamina Forensic Engine, we surpassed the limitations of standard “Performance Ratio” metrics, which mask underperformance behind weather variance. By normalising production against onsite and satellite meteorological data, we stress-tested the asset against our physics-based hybrid “Digital Twin”. This strips away environmental noise and enables decomposition and isolation of specific technical loss mechanisms with granular precision.
8 Years of Raw Telemetry Data
5-Minute Resolution Analysis
Dual-Stream Data (Onsite + Satellite)
Key Forensic Findings
Detected: Accelerated Degradation
The analysis detected statistically significant inter-string performance variability. While the system appeared healthy at the aggregate level, String 2 displayed signs of early-onset accelerated degradation following a hardware replacement. This provided the quantitative evidence required to initiate a proactive warranty investigation.
Isolated: Systematic Shading
We isolated recurring non-linear loss patterns amounting to >1.6% of annual yield. By evaluating shading profile consistency relative to solar geometry, we distinguished recoverable foliage losses from permanent structural horizons. This confirmed the losses were actionable, quantifying the ROI of low-cost landscape management.
Optimised: Soiling Strategy
We quantified the efficacy of natural cleaning cycles relative to site-specific accumulation rates. This proved that a frequent manual cleaning schedule was sub-optimal and financially unnecessary, as rainfall was sufficient to maintain target efficiency. This delivered immediate OpEx savings.
Commercial Outcome: From Reactive Maintenance to Condition-Based Strategy
This analysis transformed the asset management strategy from reactive (fixing faults as they occur) to proactive (optimising the site based on data). By eliminating unnecessary cleaning costs, targeting recoverable revenue interventions, and identifying valid warranty risks early, we proved that forensic rigor delivers opportunities to achieve a tangible return-on-investment, even on complex reference sites.
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- You manage renewable energy assets worth protecting
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- You are ready to turn uncertainty into quantified opportunities
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