Inspections and thermal imaging
Inspection of solar panels from the air
High-quality installation, as well as regular maintenance and inspection of all panels, are necessary for the trouble-free operation of a solar power plant. A fast, cheap and reliable method to verify the quality of a large area of solar panels is thermodiagnostics using a thermocamera attached to a drone.
In order to avoid many problems with photovoltaic panels, it is necessary to check them regularly. Checking with a thermal camera is ideal in this case, because the temperature extremes on the photovoltaic panels are very well displayed in the thermogram (an image obtained with the help of a thermal camera).
In most cases, this is not possible or it is not safe to get close enough with a hand-held camera because the panels are located on sloping roofs or in inaccessible places. For these reasons, a drone with a thermal camera is an effective solution.
Advantages of using drones in the energy sector
Data accuracy:
One of the biggest advantages of modern drones is that the data obtained is highly accurate and difficult to replicate using traditional manual data collection. In addition, drones can provide closer and more detailed images that support more efficient maintenance and reporting. The result is highly effective decisions by executives.
Reduced inspection time:
The use of drones in inspections in the energy and telecommunications industry also has a positive impact on reducing inspection time. It also reduces costs and enables teams to produce results and reports faster.
Increased efficiency:
In previous years, energy inspections were carried out by airplanes, mountaineers or helicopters. Although these methods produced results, they were largely ineffective. Today, these methods have been replaced by drones. Drone inspections allow teams to reach and inspect hard-to-reach locations and gather more accurate information faster and more cost-effectively.
Automation:
Advances in technology in the field of unmanned vehicles lend themselves well to automation and enable flight planning to be efficient, highly accurate, fast and timely exactly when you need it.
Availability:
Drones make it possible to inspect areas that are otherwise difficult to access. Areas such as power lines, solar and photovoltaic systems, telecommunications transmitters, wind turbines, and oil and gas facilities are excellent candidates for drone inspections. With the help of drones, it is possible to keep these devices operating at optimal efficiency.
An unmanned vehicle with an attached thermal camera can be clearly recommended for any inspection of the PV system after installation and also during regular inspections. These are converted to ensure maximum energy harvesting efficiency and minimum repair costs. The speed of a drone inspection with a thermal camera compared to a regular inspection is several times higher, as is the reliability of this method. This measurement method is also the cheapest way to identify defects on panels.
