Solar Panel / Solar Array / Solar Farm / Solar Plant Inspections

Drone Aerial Surveying

Maximise Energy Production and Reduce Maintenance Costs

Efficient and Comprehensive Inspections of Solar Power Plants!

Malfunctioning faulty solar panels can cause daily losses to energy output. Over time this results in revenue losses if not detected. The objection of drone/UAV inspections is to minimise downtime and to increase performance and reduce costs over time. Drones can be used to inspect the solar panels for defects and damage or it can be used for progress report during the construction phase of the solar farm. The captured data is uploaded into artificial-intelligence software that analyses the imagery.

As with mapping software the process of doing a mission inspection on a solar farm with drones are the same. The drones have pre-programmed flight plans loaded on solar inspection software. The flights are automated flights on the day of the inspection. After the mission is flown, the images/data from the drone are uploaded in the solar inspection software.

With the collected drone data, it is possible for asset owners, operators, and maintenance technicians to analyze the condition of solar panels, identify defects, optimize maintenance schedules, and maximize overall energy output.

Rooftop Solar Panel Inspection

Aerial drone solar panel inspections enable a swift and bird’s-eye view assessment of solar panels, ensuring that each panel is functioning optimally. High-resolution cameras on drones capture detailed images, allowing for the detection of potential issues like cracks, defects, or shading. By identifying and addressing these problems promptly, energy production can be maximised, ensuring every panel operates at peak performance.

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Streamlining Solar Plant Inspections with Drones!

Harnessing the maximum energy output from solar panels is crucial for the overall efficiency of any solar power system.

The rapid growth of solar energy has revolutionised the way we generate power sustainably. Solar panels, whether installed on rooftops, in solar arrays, on solar farms, or within vast solar plants, play a crucial role in harnessing clean energy from the sun. To ensure optimal performance and longevity of these installations, regular inspections are essential.

With the advent of drone technology; – aerial solar panel inspections have become more efficient and cost-effective than ever before in maximising energy production and reducing maintenance costs of solar power systems.

Solar Panel Inspections

Traditional inspection methods often involve manual checks that are time-consuming and may not provide a comprehensive assessment. With drones, however, the process becomes streamlined and highly accurate.

Drones equipped with advanced technologies like thermal imaging can detect hotspots or electrical faults that may lead to energy loss. These thermal inspections allow for targeted maintenance, preventing any inefficiencies and ensuring maximum energy output from the solar panels.

Maintenance costs can be a significant consideration for solar power system owners. Regular inspections and upkeep are necessary to identify and address potential issues promptly, preventing more significant problems down the line. Drone inspections offer a cost-effective solution to minimise maintenance costs while ensuring the longevity of the system.

By utilising drones, the need for manual inspections, which often require expensive equipment and specialised personnel, is significantly reduced. Drones can quickly cover large areas, inspecting numerous panels in a fraction of the time it would take for traditional methods. This efficiency leads to cost savings in terms of manpower, equipment, and overall inspection expenses.

Drone inspections enable early detection of defects or anomalies, allowing for proactive maintenance interventions. Addressing potential issues in their early stages mitigates the risk of more extensive damage or complete panel failure. With timely maintenance, repair costs are minimised and the overall longevity and reliability of the solar power system are enhanced.

By detecting and addressing issues promptly, drones enhance energy production by identifying inefficiencies, shading problems, and electrical faults. Additionally, the cost-effectiveness of drone inspections results in reduced maintenance costs through streamlined processes, quicker inspections, and early detection of defects.

As solar power continues to play a vital role in our sustainable energy future, embracing drone inspections for solar panel installations proves to be a game-changer. The combination of improved energy production and cost savings makes drone inspections an indispensable tool for maximising the efficiency and profitability of solar power systems.

Solar Inspection Data can also be used for:

  • Commissioning
  • Storm damage analysis
  • Submit warranty claims
  • Insurance adjusters able to analyse
  • Progress reporting on construction of solar farms
  • Pre-site mapping for planning of the construction of the solar farms
  • Valuations for asset transfers

The Two Main Reports that Solar Inspection Software Delivers:

1. Construction Progress Reporting:

  • 2D orthomosaic – HD Map of area
  • Analytics on project status
  • Earth moving that is required
  • Snapshot of the stage the construction site is at
  • Digital terrain models
  • Elevation maps
  • CAD Files
  • Excell files
  • PDF Files
The benefits of progress reporting is to ensure deadlines are met by identifying problems before they occur during every stage of the project.

2. Solar Panel Health Reporting:

  • Identify underperforming panels and the anomalies that are causing it.
  • Show cold areas of non-functioning panels
  • Detect hot spots or overheating panels
  • Pick up damaged or cracked panels
  • Track trends over time

The Mission – Summary of How it Works

  1. Client brief and mission requirements:
    Ensure all details from client is received and objectives are determined.
  2. Flight planning and compliance:
    Ensure all permissions are obtained from relevant authorities and site contact details are noted for mission.
  3. Risk Assessments:
    Ensure that the risk assessments are studied and reviewed by crew before flight. Check if any further mitigation is required.
  4. Onsite Assessments:
    Pilot performs onsite assessment and pre-flights before each flight. Check if any further mitigation is required to ensure safe operations.
  5. Data Management:
    Drone operator uploads verified and checked data/images after each flight.
  6. Software reports and Analyse of data:
    Operations managers, maintainers or insurance adjusters review reports on blade damage severity and issues. Data is accessible from anywhere. Annotations and comments added to images. Data base is kept from prior inspections to compare.
  7. Action plan:
    After maintenance is performed, drone operator is re-deployed to validate work performed and record data for historical reference.
  8. Hazard Assessment:
    Continuous hazard risk reporting to ensure mission improvement.

Drones that are commonly used in the Solar Plant Industry are:

  • DJI MAVIC PRO – Basic operations – emergency responses – small mapping – very portable – low cost
  • DJI M210 – All rounder – Multiple payloads – Thermal camera – RGB camera – Zoom camera -High cost – excellent in windy conditions
  • DJI INSPIRE 2 – All rounder – Quality drone – mid cost range – excellent in windy conditions
  • DJI M600 – Heavy lifter – Specialised payloads – Lidar sensors -mid cost range
  • Sensefly – Fixed wing – Large scale mapping
Solar Array Fault Detection
Aerial Solar Inspections
Solar Roof Panel Inspections

The utilisation of aerial drones for solar panel inspections brings substantial benefits in terms of maximising energy production and reducing maintenance costs. These cutting-edge technologies enable efficient and accurate assessments of solar panels, ensuring optimal performance and longevity of solar power systems.