Solar Panels are used to generate renewable power using sunlight. These panels have multiple cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The continuous growth of the solar industry brings an ever-expanding base of solar installations. Quality assurance is of fundamental importance for solar panels as they are expected to provide a life of 20 years. The failure-free operation of the panels is very important and a prerequisite for efficient power generation, long life, and a high return on investment. Over time, solar panels may develop defects that can be easily fixed if detected in time but can cause a severe drop in energy production and in some cases even start a fire if left unchecked.
These cells At RPAS Aerial Solutions the main objective is to identify the faulty Solar Panels so they can be replaced by the manufacturers while they are in warranty, maximize output/efficiency, and proactively address issues thus minimizing maintenance cost. We leverage drone Thermal Imaging and Aerial Inspections to provide accurate and detailed inspections quicker and more cost-effectively.
Problems that Can Arise in Solar Panels
Cells become negatively biased and instead of producing electrical energy they produce heat energy due to:
▪️Cell failure ▪️Interconnection failure ▪️Melting of solder ▪️Degradation of the solar cell (0.5% to 3% each year) ▪️Decrease of operational efficiency ▪️Humidity Issues ▪️UV Exposure
Benefits of Drone-based for Solar Farm Inspections
- Rapid and Easy scans for Rooftops and arrays thereby saving valuable time
- Hot spot identification showing defective cells / Geotagged image-making, replacements easier and quicker
- Early Diagnostics helps in the planning of Panel replacement and indenting
- Infrared signatures show defective panels and thereby saves a lot of man-hours in manual inspection
- Keep the solar farm running at peak efficiency the TAT (Turnaround time for repairs is very quick)
- Utilizing drones will typically reduce the cost of inspections by approximately 30-50%
