Expert Profile: Andreas Benz
Certified PV Expert & Photovoltaic Surveyor – specialising in damage assessments, yield shortfall / yield reports and documentation review for PV systems.
Profile Summary
- Name: Andreas Benz
- Qualification: Dipl.-Ing. (equiv. MSc) Mechanical Engineering
- Experience: 15 years in the PV industry
- Role: PV Expert / Photovoltaic Surveyor
- Region: Berlin, Brandenburg, Germany and Europe
- Contact: info@gutachterpv.org · +49 173 2821786
What I Assess
- Damage patterns (DC/AC), hotspots, insulation/protection concepts, installation and planning defects
- Yield shortfall: yield plausibility check, string/wiring review, monitoring data & reference models
- Document and standards review: planning, protection and measurement concepts, commissioning/measurement protocols
- Root cause analysis incl. photo-documented findings
Methodology (Practical)
1) Documentation
Review of system documentation (plans, protection concepts, measurement protocols, handover records, photos). Objective: identify inconsistencies and gaps.
2) On-Site Inspection
Visual inspection, spot checks, measurements/protocol verification (e.g. insulation measurement), focus on safety-critical details.
3) Assessment
Classification according to recognised technical standards (DIN VDE / IEC), risk assessment and clear list of recommended actions.
Areas of Focus
For specific cases: briefly describe the system, year of construction, inverter, anomalies and available measurement/monitoring data. With this information, I can assess which type of review is advisable.