"This book applies the lessons learned from mature industries including aerospace, utilities, rail, marine, and automotive technologies, and incorporates them to the PV industry. Since 2007, PVPS based enterprises have experienced an 84% CapEx reduction in utility-scale costs, module prices decreased 93%, and efficiency increased 20% (relative). However, the investments that improved those elements have not translated into RAMS for O&M resulting in excessive costs in the out years. PAM?s is intended to improve reliability and maintainability attributes, while reducing PVPS project technical and financial risk. The PAM methodologies are applied to the various PVPS life cycle elements while addressing all stakeholders? needs. Each project phase is addressed by applying the appropriate RAMS and SMART engineering practises. The book provides examples of the impact to the primary stakeholders (Financers, Developers, EPCs, Engineers, Owners/Operators, OEMs, O&M providers, utilities, and customers) during the concept, specification, operations, maintenance and repowering phases. The chapters address how to develop RAMS specifications, data and tasks, while illustrating the inherent benefits of how these affect the cost of design and development, maintenance, spares, and systems operation. They also address when to consider repowering or plant upgrades to the system or the optimum time to consider retirement and disposal of the plant. It introduces the application of current technologies that can facilitate assessment of plant health and condition. These include improved SCADA for fault detection and isolation, and external field assessment through EM (multispectral, electro-luminescence, visual, infrared and ultraviolet) scanning of the plant using airborne and mobile sensors."-- Provided by publisher.