In this paper, a new method is demonstrated for online remote simulation of photovoltaic systems. The required communication technology for the data exchange is introduced and the methods of PV generator parameter extraction for the simulation models are analysed. The method shown for parameter extraction from the manufacturer data is especially useful for the commissioning procedure, where the measured installed power is transferred to standard test conditions using the simulation model and can then be easily compared with the design power. At a simulation accuracy of 2% using the software environment INSEL any problems with the PV generator can reliably be detected. Online simulation of a grid connected PV generator is then carried out during the operation of the photovoltaic plant. The visualisation includes both the monitored and the simulated online data sets, so that a very efficient fault detection scheme is available. The method is implemented and validated on several grid connected photovoltaic power plants in Germany. It is excellently suited to provide automatic and real time fault detection and significantly improve the commissioning procedure for photovoltaic plants of all sizes.