MAINTENANCE · GUJARAT
Solar Plant Underperforming in Gujarat, Causes and Warranty Claims
Solar making fewer units than promised? Check against 4.2 units per kWp a day in Bharuch, find the cause, and claim panel or inverter warranty the right way.
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If your solar system is making fewer units than you were promised, the first job is to check whether it really is underperforming. The second is to find the cause, because most are fixable without a warranty claim. Only a small share of cases are true panel or inverter defects, and those need proper evidence to claim.
Step 1, compare against a fair number
In Bharuch a good system makes about 4.2 units per kWp per day averaged across the year. That is about 126 units per kWp per month.
| System | Expected average per month |
|---|---|
| 2.2 kWp | about 280 units |
| 3.3 kWp | about 420 units |
| 4.4 kWp | about 560 units |
| 5.5 kWp | about 700 units |
Monsoon months fall well below this and summer months go above it. Compare a whole month against the same month’s expectation, or better, twelve months against the yearly total. Read the generation from the inverter or its app, not the DGVCL bill, because the bill shows net units after your own use.
A system more than 15% below the expected figure over a few clear months is worth investigating.
Step 2, find the cause
Dust and soot
This is the most common cause in our area. Near Ankleshwar and Panoli GIDC and along the highway, a grey film builds up fast in the dry months. Bird droppings are worse, because a single dropping shades a cell and drags down the whole panel. Clean with plain water and a soft mop, early morning or evening, never with detergent or a hard brush. The post on solar panel cleaning and maintenance covers how often.
Inverter tripping on high voltage
On sunny afternoons, many rooftops on one transformer export at once and the local grid voltage rises. The inverter is required to disconnect above a set voltage, and it keeps tripping and reconnecting. You lose units exactly in the best hours. The inverter log will show grid overvoltage faults. The fix is a DGVCL complaint about high voltage on your line, and in some cases an adjustment of inverter settings within the allowed limits by your installer.
New shade
A water tank moved on the terrace, a neighbour adding a floor, or a tree that has grown. Shade on part of one panel can cut the output of the whole string. Check the roof at 10 am, noon and 3 pm.
A wiring fault
A loose or burnt MC4 connector, or a damaged cable chewed by rats or monkeys, can take one string out entirely. The inverter often shows it as one string at zero or much lower current than the other. This needs an electrician, not a warranty claim.
Real degradation or a defective panel
Panels lose about 0.5% of output a year. A panel losing much more, or showing brown marks, cracks, or bubbles under the glass, may be defective. This is when a warranty claim makes sense.
Step 3, know what warranty you have
| Part | Typical warranty | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Panel, product | 10 to 12 years, longer on some brands | Defects in materials and build |
| Panel, performance | 25 years or more | A minimum share of rated output each year, on a set curve |
| Inverter | 5 to 10 years | Failure of the inverter |
| Structure and installation | set by the installer | Rust, anchoring, leaks, workmanship |
Your warranty card and panel datasheet give the exact terms. Keep the invoice with serial numbers somewhere safe from day one.
Step 4, make the claim
Gather the evidence before you call. Twelve months of generation from the inverter app, photos or screenshots of any fault codes, photos of damaged panels, and the invoice with serial numbers.
The brand will usually ask for tests. An I-V curve test measures what each panel or string actually delivers against its rating. A thermal camera scan shows hot spots from cracked cells or bad connections. Your installer should arrange these. A claim based only on “my bill went up” will be rejected, because bills move with use and tariff.
Put the complaint in writing, by email or on the brand’s service portal, and keep the reference number. Brands normally replace a defective panel or inverter rather than refund it.
Our part
Our structures carry a 34-year written warranty, and we refund 100% if our installation causes a roof leak. If you have one of our systems and think it is underperforming, send us a screenshot of the inverter app on WhatsApp and we will check it before any visit. If your system was installed by someone else, we can still inspect it and tell you plainly what we find.
See every town we have worked in →
Want the number for your own roof?
Send your last electricity bill on WhatsApp. We reply the same day with a size and a price, and the site visit is free.
Questions people ask
How many units should my solar system make in Bharuch?
About 4.2 units per kWp per day averaged over the year, so roughly 126 units per kWp a month. A 3.3 kWp system averages around 420 units a month. Expect more in March to May and less in July and August. Judge a system on a full month or a full year, not a single cloudy day.
What is the most common reason solar output drops?
Dust, by a long way. In Bharuch, especially near GIDC estates and highways, a layer of dust and industrial soot can cut output noticeably within weeks in the dry season. After dust, the common causes are the inverter tripping on high grid voltage at midday, new shade from a tank or neighbour's floor, and a loose or burnt connector on one string.
What does the panel performance warranty cover?
It guarantees the panel will still give a minimum share of its rated power after a set number of years. Most tier-one panels promise around 80% or more at 25 years, with a small drop each year. The exact curve is on the datasheet and warranty card. A claim needs a test showing the panel is below that curve, not just a low monthly bill.
Who do I contact for a warranty claim, the installer or the brand?
Start with your installer. They registered the product, they have the invoices and serial numbers, and they can run the tests the brand asks for. The brand processes the claim. If your installer has closed down, contact the brand's service line directly with your invoice and serial numbers.
Does my inverter show why output is low?
Usually, yes. Most inverters log daily units and fault codes, either on the screen or in a mobile app over Wi-Fi. Codes for grid overvoltage, isolation fault or string mismatch point straight at the cause. Take photos of the fault screen or screenshots of the app before calling anyone.