Comparative Reliability Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Energy Systems Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Keywords:
Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Wind Energy Systems, Reliability Analysis, Renewable Energy Systems, Failure Mode Analysis, Predictive Maintenance, FMEA, Risk Priority Number (RPN)Abstract
This study presents a comparative reliability and risk assessment of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy systems using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). With the rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, understanding system-specific failure behavior has become essential for ensuring operational stability and long-term performance. The analysis identifies critical failure modes across key subsystems, including PV modules, inverters, turbine blades, gearboxes, and generators. Each failure mode is evaluated using Severity, Occurrence, and Detection parameters to compute the Risk Priority Number (RPN). The study further examines the influence of environmental and operational conditions such as temperature variation, dust accumulation, and wind variability on system reliability. The results demonstrate distinct risk profiles for the two technologies. Solar PV systems exhibit predominantly environment-driven degradation, resulting in distributed and manageable risks. In contrast, wind energy systems show higher criticality due to mechanical complexity and continuous dynamic loading, leading to more concentrated and severe failure modes. These findings emphasize the need for differentiated maintenance strategies, including preventive and condition-based approaches tailored to system characteristics. The proposed comparative framework provides practical insights for reliability assessment, maintenance planning, and decision-making in renewable energy system deployment.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samruddhi Survase, Avinash Somatkar (Author)
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