How to Detect a Faulty Solar Panel

Failures may occur in solar panels over time or due to various external factors. Detecting these failures quickly and accurately is very important in terms of efficiency and longevity. At this point, drones and aerial thermography inspection come into play and help detect malfunctions of solar panels.

Failures of Solar Panels

Solar panels are made of semiconductor materials to convert sunlight into electrical energy. However, malfunctions can occur for various reasons. The glass covering the solar panels, the EVA layer and the cells themselves can wear out or become damaged over time. Dirt, dust or leaves accumulated on the panel can also negatively affect efficiency. Failures can reduce the energy production of solar panels and ultimately shorten their lifespan.

Solar Panel Inspection with Drones

Traditionally, to inspect solar panels, people perform visual checks at close range or by climbing on top of the panels. This method can be time-consuming, costly and sometimes dangerous. In recent years, the development of drone technology has made aerial inspection of solar panels much easier. Drones allow for fast and safe detection of faulty solar panels.

Drones can fly close to solar panels and perform thermal inspections with high-resolution cameras. They can also measure the surface temperature of solar panels using thermal cameras. This is an important method to understand whether solar panels are working efficiently. Faulty panels often show a higher temperature than normal and this can be detected with thermal cameras.

Inspecting Solar Panels with Aerial Thermography

Aerial thermography inspection with drones is a highly effective method for detecting malfunctions of solar panels.

During an aerial thermography inspection, the drone acquires high-resolution thermal images as it passes over the solar panels. These images show the temperature differences in the panels and help to identify possible defective areas.

Drones and Aerial Thermography Advantages

Solar panel inspection with drones and aerial thermography offers a number of advantages over traditional methods:

Fast and Effective Detection: With drones, large solar panel systems can be scanned quickly and faults can be detected quickly.

Safety: Risky situations requiring people to climb on solar panels are eliminated, ensuring the safety of workers.

Cost and Time Savings: Compared to traditional methods, drone inspection can be less costly and more time-efficient.

Detailed and Comprehensive Analysis: High-resolution thermal images obtained from the air allow for easier and more detailed analysis of faults.

Access to Hard-to-reach Areas: Drones provide easy access, even when solar panels are placed on rooftops or in scattered locations.MapperX: Efficiency and Cost Optimization for Solar Power Plants

Solar energy is gaining more and more attention as an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy source. Solar panels and photovoltaic (PV) plants play an important role in providing clean energy production. Problems such as changing environmental conditions, technical failures and maintenance requirements can negatively affect the efficiency and performance of solar energy systems. This is where MapperX is a highly effective service designed to increase the efficiency of solar power plants and reduce costs.

How MapperX Works

Thanks to artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms, MapperX analyzes thermal inspection data in solar power plants and identifies and reports faults in panels.

If a solar panel is inefficient, damaged or contaminated, its surface temperature may be different from others. MapperX detects these anomalies, identifies problematic panels and provides reports to operators. These reports help them identify which panels are problematic and what kind of intervention is needed. Visit the website to learn more about “How to Detect Broken Solar Panels?“