Why schedule a Thermal Drone Inspection?
Warranty Claims
Hot spots, activated bypass diodes and other anomalies are signs of potential module failures. If the modules are still under warranty, you can use reported findings as evidence of these types of failures to support a warranty claim. Thermal Hawks analytics identify these common issues and supply the documentation necessary for a warranty claim.
Hold your maintenance provider accountable
Regular maintenance and inspection are one of the most important steps to take in order to keep your solar system operating safely at optimal performance levels. Unfortunately, maintenance providers rarely conduct aerial thermal inspections in the residential sector because they are "too energy- and time-consuming." Our goal is to provide this vital service to all residential PV system owners so that defective solar panels and equipment can be identified and then repaired or replaced by the maintenance companies.
Locate System Anomalies
Our expert thermographers and AI software will analyze the thermal imaging data taken from the inspection and generate a detailed report about your PV system. Anomalies will be tagged and prioritized. *See example report below.
Accuracy
Aerial thermography is the most accurate and efficient way to inspect your PV system. Using our industry leading AI software, the findings are quality checked to ensure that module-level anomalies are tagged with 95% accuracy and string-level anomalies with 99% accuracy.
Fire and Electrocution
Solar systems are generally safe, however, many PV system issues can result in solar panel fires, electrical shock and sometimes death. Our thermal inspections look for hotspots and faults that can lead to these dangerous situations.
Site Safety
Typical solar system inspections require technicians to climb ladders, walk on pitched roofs, open combiners and inverters. Falls from ladders and electrical shock are the leading causes of injury and death in the construction industry. Our thermal drone inspections reduce these risks by identifying anomalies from a safe location.
Reduction in inspection cost and time
In addition to reducing high-risk labor, aerial inspections reduce inspection time by up to 70% compared to manual inspections. Commercial, industrial and utility-scale systems can span hundreds of acres. It can take days or even weeks for a team of maintenance technicians to execute a thorough inspection manually, using handheld thermal imagers.
Historical Data
Keeping a record of all your PV thermal inspections is important to track and understand the evolution of each anomaly and fault in your system. There may be some anomalies that do not justify the immediate replacement of a panel, however, it is essential to keep track of these anomalies to prevent future failures and system downtime.
When should a thermal drone inspection be performed?
- When commissioning a PV system
- During the Preventative Maintenance visit
- For faster, more efficient trouble-shooting
- For initiating warranty claims
- Residential thermal inspections are recommended annually
- Commercial, Industrial and Utility-scale thermal inspections are recommended weekly, monthly or annually, depending on customer needs
EXAMPLES OF SOLAR Anomalies
Hotspot Cell
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
Hotspot Cell Multi
Cell anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas
Hotspot Cell Multi
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
Hotspot Cell Multi
Cell multi anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
Cell multi anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas
Diode
String Outages
Hotspot Cell Multi Medium
A bypass diode provides a current path around a faulty cell or module. A diode anomaly indicates as activated bypass diode, typically 1/3 of module.
Diode Multi
String Outages
String Outages
Multiple activated bypass diodes, typically affecting ⅔ of module
String Outages
String Outages
String Outages
An entire string is offline
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Module anomaly caused by cracking on module surface
Module Delamination
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Module anomaly due to compromised adhesion between glass, encapsulant, active layers, and/or back layers. More common with thin film modules.
Burns / Fire Threats
Cracked / Broken Solar Modules
Burns / Fire Threats
Burns produce power losses and serious safety issues such as fires and electrocution.
Tracker
Shadowing
Burns / Fire Threats
Tracker systems not operating as intended.
Shadowing
Shadowing
Shadowing
Sunlight obstructed by vegetation, man-made structures, or adjacent rows
Soiling
Shadowing
Shadowing
Dirt, dust, or other debris on surface of module