Frequently Asked Questions
Target Audience & Value Proposition
Who is the Solar O&M AI tool for?
The Ona Terminal Solar O&M AI tool is designed for:
- Solar Asset Owners & Operators: Managing utility-scale solar installations (1MW+)
- O&M Service Providers: Offering maintenance and optimization services to solar clients
- Independent Power Producers (IPPs): Operating solar portfolios across multiple sites
- Energy Asset Managers: Overseeing renewable energy investments and performance
- Solar EPC Companies: Providing post-construction monitoring and maintenance services
The tool is particularly valuable for organizations managing:
- Multiple solar sites across different regions
- Complex portfolios with varying equipment types
- High-value assets requiring predictive maintenance
- Operations requiring regulatory compliance and reporting
What’s the definition of value for the Solar O&M AI tool?
Value is delivered through multiple dimensions:
Operational Efficiency
- 30-50% reduction in manual monitoring time
- Automated anomaly detection and alerting
- Predictive maintenance scheduling
- Real-time performance optimization
Financial Impact
- 5-15% improvement in energy production through optimization
- 20-40% reduction in unplanned downtime
- Extended equipment lifespan through predictive maintenance
- Reduced O&M labor costs through automation
Risk Mitigation
- Early detection of equipment failures
- Compliance with regulatory requirements
- Data-driven decision making
- Reduced insurance claims through proactive maintenance
Scalability Benefits
- Consistent performance across multiple sites
- Standardized processes and reporting
- Reduced per-site management overhead
- Centralized monitoring and control
Competitive Advantage
How is our Solar O&M AI tool not subject to erosion by competition?
Our competitive moat is built on several strategic advantages:
Proprietary Data & Models
- Fine-tuned AI models specifically for solar O&M use cases
- Proprietary algorithms developed from real-world solar data
- Continuous learning from diverse solar installations
- Domain-specific expertise in solar energy optimization
Integration Depth
- Native integration with existing solar monitoring systems
- API-first architecture enabling seamless third-party connections
- Customizable workflows for specific client requirements
- Multi-platform compatibility (SCADA, DAS, weather systems)
Operational Excellence
- Proven track record in production environments
- Comprehensive support and training programs
- Regular model updates and feature enhancements
- Dedicated customer success management
Network Effects
- Growing dataset from multiple installations
- Community-driven feature development
- Shared best practices across client base
- Ecosystem partnerships with equipment manufacturers
Scalability & Performance
How scalable is the AI module? If a client has 50MW+ or operates across multiple regions, how well does the system scale?
The Ona Terminal AI module is designed for enterprise-scale operations:
Infrastructure Scalability
- Multi-region deployment: Supports operations across multiple AWS regions
- Auto-scaling architecture: Automatically adjusts resources based on demand
- Load balancing: Distributes processing across multiple instances
- Horizontal scaling: Add capacity by adding more compute resources
Performance at Scale
- 50MW+ installations: Successfully tested with large-scale solar portfolios
- Real-time processing: Handles thousands of data points per minute
- Concurrent users: Supports 100+ simultaneous users without degradation
- Data throughput: Processes 300K+ data points per minute
Regional Operations
- Geographic distribution: Deploy monitoring nodes in multiple regions
- Local compliance: Adapts to regional regulatory requirements
- Weather integration: Local weather data integration for each region
- Redundancy: Built-in failover and disaster recovery capabilities
Cost Efficiency at Scale
- Economies of scale: Per-MW costs decrease with larger installations
- Resource optimization: Intelligent resource allocation based on usage patterns
- Predictable pricing: Transparent cost structure for large deployments
- ROI improvement: Higher value extraction from larger portfolios
Post-Trial Support
What happens post-trial? Once clients move to an annual contract, what support, updates, or improvements are included?
Our post-trial support program ensures continued value delivery:
Ongoing Support
- 24/7 technical support: Dedicated support team for critical issues
- Regular check-ins: Monthly or quarterly business reviews
- Training programs: Ongoing user training and certification
- Documentation updates: Access to latest user guides and best practices
Continuous Improvements
- Model updates: Regular AI model improvements and retraining
- Feature enhancements: New capabilities based on client feedback
- Performance optimization: Ongoing system performance improvements
- Security updates: Regular security patches and compliance updates
Value-Added Services
- Custom integrations: Development of client-specific integrations
- Advanced analytics: Access to premium analytics and reporting features
- Consulting services: Expert consultation on optimization strategies
- ROI analysis: Regular value assessment and optimization recommendations
Community Access
- User community: Access to user forums and knowledge sharing
- Best practices: Regular updates on industry best practices
- Case studies: Access to anonymized case studies and success stories
- Industry insights: Regular updates on solar industry trends and innovations
Integration Capabilities
Can this system integrate with third-party monitoring platforms? If an asset owner isn’t using eSUMS yet, is the AI module compatible as a standalone or API-integrated layer?
Yes, the Ona Terminal AI module is designed for maximum compatibility:
Standalone Operation
- Independent deployment: Can operate without existing monitoring systems
- Direct data ingestion: Accepts data from various sources and formats
- Custom dashboards: Built-in visualization and reporting capabilities
- API-first design: All functionality available through REST APIs
Third-Party Integration
- SCADA systems: Compatible with major SCADA platforms (Siemens, Schneider, etc.)
- DAS platforms: Integration with Data Acquisition Systems
- Weather services: Integration with multiple weather data providers
- Equipment APIs: Direct integration with inverter and sensor APIs
API Integration Layer
- RESTful APIs: Standard REST APIs for all core functionality
- Webhook support: Real-time event notifications
- Data export: Multiple format support (JSON, CSV, XML)
- Authentication: OAuth 2.0 and API key authentication
Compatibility Matrix
- Inverter manufacturers: Compatible with major brands (SMA, Fronius, SolarEdge, etc.)
- Monitoring platforms: Integration with popular platforms
- Data formats: Support for standard protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT)
- Cloud platforms: Compatible with major cloud providers
Performance Guarantees & Risk Mitigation
How does the AI tool help with plant availability guarantees and performance penalties?
The Ona Terminal AI tool provides critical support for meeting and exceeding plant availability targets:
Performance Guarantee Support
- 98% availability target: AI-driven predictive maintenance helps maintain or exceed standard EPC availability guarantees
- Penalty avoidance: Early detection of potential failures prevents downtime that could trigger 3x penalty clauses
- Zero-risk optimization: AI recommendations provide performance improvements without operational risk
- Continuous monitoring: 24/7 automated monitoring ensures no performance issues go undetected
EPC & Client Benefits
- EPC advantage: EPCs can offer better availability guarantees (99%+) using AI-powered predictive maintenance
- Client protection: Enhanced monitoring protects client’s bottom line from performance penalties
- PPA optimization: Better availability translates to improved Power Purchase Agreement performance
- Self-funded projects: Direct financial benefits for projects without external performance guarantees
Risk Mitigation Features
- Predictive alerts: 48-72 hour advance warning of potential equipment failures
- Automated response: Immediate action on critical issues to prevent downtime
- Performance tracking: Real-time availability monitoring and reporting
- Historical analysis: Data-driven insights for continuous improvement
Financial Impact
- Penalty avoidance: Prevent 3x penalty costs through proactive maintenance
- Revenue protection: Maintain full energy production during critical periods
- Insurance benefits: Reduced claims through proven preventive maintenance
- ROI enhancement: Performance improvements directly translate to financial gains
Security & Data Protection
Since AI and SCADA integration involve sensitive data, how is data secured? Where is it stored? Is any data shared with third parties?
Security and data protection are our top priorities:
Data Security
- Encryption at rest: All data encrypted using AES-256 encryption
- Encryption in transit: TLS 1.3 for all data transmission
- Access controls: Role-based access control (RBAC) with least privilege
- Audit logging: Comprehensive audit trails for all data access
Data Storage
- AWS infrastructure: Stored in secure AWS data centers
- Regional compliance: Data stored in client’s preferred region
- Backup and recovery: Automated backup with point-in-time recovery
- Data retention: Configurable retention policies based on client requirements
Third-Party Data Sharing
- No unauthorized sharing: Data is never shared with third parties without explicit consent
- Anonymized analytics: Only aggregated, anonymized data used for model improvement
- Client control: Clients maintain full control over their data
- Data portability: Easy data export and deletion capabilities
Compliance & Certifications
- SOC 2 Type II: Annual security compliance certification
- GDPR compliance: Full compliance with data protection regulations
- Industry standards: Compliance with NERC CIP and other industry standards
- Regular audits: Third-party security audits and penetration testing
Operational Security
- Secure development: Secure software development lifecycle
- Vulnerability management: Regular security assessments and updates
- Incident response: 24/7 security monitoring and incident response
- Employee training: Regular security training for all employees
For additional questions or to schedule a demo, please contact our team.