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Solar energy and the Photovoltaic (PV) Industry has seen enormous growth over the past decade. In 2019 the solar farm market alone was valued at $61.4 billion, and by 2027 this is projected to reach $261.0 billion.
This expansion can be attributed to the lower cost of PV panels, and an increase in government regulations to reduce reliance on fossil fuel programs. A study between Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables estimates the installation cost for utility companies and commercial solar farms has been reduced 60–70% since 2010 and continues to decline.
The lower cost benefit has accelerated the adoption of solar energy by utility companies, and in turn the expansion of commercial solar farms. As the industry continues to grow, so does the need for maintenance inspections. These inspections have traditionally been done manually through very time-consuming methods, which do not yield as much data and come with an increased safety risk to the person carrying out the inspection
Drones are especially equipped to identify these issues so they can be corrected quickly. This can help save money on extended maintenance repairs and prevent production losses
An Introduction to DroneBased Solar Inspections
The Benefits of Drone Technology for Solar Inspections
Types of Photovoltaic Systems Drone Inspect
Hardware & Software Requirements
Inspection Parameters & Best Practices
What are Drone Solar Inspections?
Drone inspections are becoming increasingly commonplace in a variety of industries as part of routine maintenance procedures. Aerial photovoltaic (PV) inspections are important because they can help to improve the efficiency of solar panels and prevent potential problems. By identifying issues early, it is possible to take corrective action to ensure that the panels are functioning properly. Solar drone inspections can detect a variety of PV anomalies, such as
Cell Hot Spots
Module Cracking
Module Soiling
Module Delamination
Activated Bypass Diodes
Vegetation Encroachment
String Outages
Reverse Polarity
Tracker Faults
How are aerial inspections conducted?
Aerial inspections are conducted by using a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) equipped with a thermal and/or RGB camera over the area to be inspected. The thermal camera can detect subtle differences in temperature, which can be used to identify potential problems with solar panels. As the drone flies across the PV system, the imaging payload takes photographs or videos depending on the inspection in question. The media is then analyzed to identify any potential issues. This process is typically conducted on a routine basis, such as once a year, to ensure that any problems are detected promptly. A two-person crew is typically required for these types of inspections. One person will operate the drone, the PIC (Pilot in Command), while the other person, the VO (Visual Observer) will act as a spotter. The PIC will maintain flight controls, operate the camera, monitor battery voltage, watch for signal interference, and ensure the flight is progressing as planned. The VO will maintain eye contact with the drone while in flight, make sure no collisions are imminent, and monitor current or upcoming weather conditions. Through flight planning software, the drone is pre-programmed to follow a specific flight path. This path will be determined by the PIC and is typically flown autonomously once launched. After the intended flight path has been flown and the drone reaches the end of the flight plan, it will execute any predetermined end-of-mission actions and return to the launch pad
An important aspect of solar inspections is having a proper workflow for the equipment, especially when relating to the UAS batteries. As solar farms increase in size, multiple takeoffs and landings are required throughout the inspection to swap out depleted batteries. Fortunately, flight missions can be temporarily paused, allowing the drone to land and receive a new battery, and then continue where the flight left off. This requires multiple high-capacity batteries, and the ability to charge them efficiently. Pilots will often bring their own generators or plug directly into the on-site inverters, providing adequate charging in the field.
How do Thermal Cameras Detect Solar Anomalies?
How do Thermal Cameras Detect Solar Anomalies?
Thermal cameras work by detecting infrared radiation, which is emitted by all objects at different levels depending on their temperature, emissivity, reflective properties, and other factors. This radiation cannot be seen with the naked eye because infrared light has less energy than the colors we see in the visible spectrum. However, it can be detected by special instruments like thermal cameras. The sensors on thermal cameras detect unique heat signatures (radiation), which are very subtle differences in temperature, and therefore they can identify a large variety of potential anomalies with solar panels.
One example of a PV anomaly detected by thermal cameras are hotspots. These are localized areas of higher temperatures on a solar panel that will decrease efficiency by dissipating energy instead of generating it. These areas are detected by thermal cameras and show up on a display as bright spots in the color palette on the panel.
3 A color palette on a thermal camera is how the sensor converts temperatures into a visible picture of the radiation. These user-chosen pallets transform the scene to highlight specific areas of the thermal image without altering the temperature data collected. The pilot can choose from several different pallet options such as white hot, black hot, fusion, rainbow, etc., depending on the needs of the inspection.
Black Hot White Hot COLOR PALETTES Rainbow Fusion The color palette chosen alongside a thermal camera shows a distribution of temperatures across an object and will vary depending on the radiation levels absorbed or reflected. For example, when using a fusion color palette, temperatures on the display are shown in colors from dark to light. The coolest temperatures are seen in black to blue ranges and the hottest temperatures in bright yellow to white colors. Areas like hot spots absorb more radiation (heat), and therefore show up in the bright yellow-white areas on a panel.
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