Solar Energy Anomaly Detection

Solar Energy Anomaly Detection, photovoltaic (PV) panels are the key components that convert solar energy into electricity. However, these panels can fail over time for various reasons.

MapperX identifies anomalies in solar panels with thermal inspection. Airborne thermal inspection shows that the abnormal area or component is hotter.

Serious anomalies found in PV panels usually indicate larger temperature differences. A temperature difference of more than 20 degrees indicates that a PV panel is defective. Anomalies are not always constant and can vary depending on the conditions during the thermal inspection.

PV Panel Inspection

Regular inspections are important to ensure that PV panels are working correctly. Here are the basic steps of PV panel inspection:

PV Panel Inspection with Thermal Drone Technology

Thermal drone technology is an extremely valuable tool for aerial inspection of solar power plants. Thanks to drones with thermal cameras, solar power plants can be inspected quickly and precisely.

Thermal drones can perform many useful functions; they can create heat maps of power plants, identify damaged or malfunctioning PV panels, and detect other potential problems.

Aerial solar power plant inspection is advantageous in several ways. First, thermal drones can easily reach every point of the plant, allowing them to inspect panels and components in detail. Secondly, this technology makes it possible to inspect PV plants more quickly and effectively, which saves time and costs.

Solar power plant inspection is not only important from an operational point of view, but also from an environmental point of view. Weather conditions affect the production quality and performance of solar power plants.

Thermal drone technology contributes to better managing power plants and increasing solar energy production. In this way, positive results are achieved in terms of both energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Common causes of solar panel anomalies:

• Installation errors: If PV panels are installed incorrectly, they can crack, become dirty or shaded.
• Local shading: Panels shaded by trees, buildings or other objects produce less energy.
• Panel contamination: Dust, bird droppings or other causes can reduce the efficiency of panels.
• Nearby vegetation: Dense vegetation can shade or contaminate panels.
• Panel cracking: PV panels can be damaged during transportation or installation.
• Manufacturing defects: Panels may have been defectively manufactured during production.
• Weather events: Weather events such as lightning, hail or wind can damage panels.
• Inadequate grounding: If solar panels are not grounded, the risk of electric shock increases.
• Module degradation: Components inside the panels can deteriorate.

Thermal inspections of solar power plants allow us to gain insight into how possible abnormal conditions can affect energy production.

Solar power plants are designed to generate large amounts of electricity and operate continuously. However, these plants can be affected by environmental factors, which emphasizes the importance of regular operation and maintenance. In this context, thermal drone inspections play a vital role in the operation and maintenance processes of solar power plants.

Operation and Maintenance of Solar Power Plants

The operation and maintenance of solar power plants is critical and thermal drone inspections are an important part of this process. SPP thermal drone inspections are used to assess the performance and temperature distribution of solar panels in power plants. These inspections are carried out using drones equipped with sensitive thermal cameras.

The data collected during thermal drone inspections is usually analyzed with MapperX artificial intelligence software and reported. The MapperX software solution detects potential errors, faults and anomalies in thermal images and provides a detailed report to business managers. In this way, potential problems can be quickly identified and the necessary interventions can be carried out quickly. This increases the uptime and efficiency of solar power plants.

Thermal drone inspections are an important technological tool used to optimize the operation and maintenance of solar power plants. The inspections help plants to operate more efficiently and reliably, while also providing early detection of potential problems caused by environmental factors.

MapperX software solution transforms the analyzed data into world-class reports. The reports include the status of the faulty panel and the work order information screen, which is used to facilitate tracking of the supply when the technical team is on site for repairs.

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