PanelAudit

PanelAudit offers an online tool for solar system owners to assess the performance of their solar panels and identify potential energy loss. By entering system details such as size, age, location, current annual production, panel manufacturer, and inverter brand, users receive an estimate of how much energy their solar system may be losing and an indication of likely faults. The platform is designed to help users determine whether their system is underperforming and if a professional inspection is warranted.

The service provides a free solar performance diagnosis with no signup required. It uses conservative modelling based on published solar performance and degradation data from sources such as NREL, IEA-PVPS, SunSpec, and PVsyst. Users can track the health of their solar system over time and receive guidance on common issues that may affect performance, including natural degradation, hotspots, cell damage, partial shading, soiling, and inverter efficiency loss. The tool also offers a quick assessment feature to help users decide if a professional thermal inspection is a worthwhile investment for their system.

PanelAudit includes resources for learning about factors that reduce solar output, such as thermal imaging for detecting hotspots and cell damage, and the effects of soiling or shading. For those seeking further action, the platform connects users with certified thermal inspection and drone audit providers in various regions including the US, UK, Australia, and Spain. The service emphasizes that performance results are estimates and do not replace professional inspection.

As a web-based diagnosis engine, PanelAudit is aimed at solar system owners interested in monitoring and optimizing their system's output. The tool is free to use, does not store personal data, and bases its results on structured performance modelling and published research.