Boost your PV plant's performance with precise drone thermography
Detect faults early. Maximise yield. Inspect without downtime.
Our service
Photovoltaic plants are a core piece of the energy transition — and a long-term investment. With our drone-based thermography we identify weak spots before they become real problems. Optimise plant performance and customer satisfaction — professionally, quickly, and without taking the plant offline.
Your benefits at a glance:
- Early fault detection: thermographic drone imaging reveals hotspots and defects.
- Efficient inspection: large-area coverage in a fraction of the time — no scaffolding, no lifts.
- Safety and precision: state-of-the-art drone technology delivers detailed, conclusive results.
- Value for your customers: minimise downtime, maximise plant performance.
How we work — 4-step process
1. Briefing & planning
We clarify the project requirements together.
2. On-site inspection
Our drones capture high-resolution thermography of your installation.
3. Analysis & report
You receive a detailed inspection report with imagery, measurement data and recommendations.
4. Implementation
Use the findings to optimise plant operation and impress your customers.
What drone thermography makes visible
Using high-resolution infrared cameras (640×512 px sensor, <50 mK thermal resolution) our inspection drones detect every anomaly on your PV modules. Thermographic analysis follows the IEC TS 62446-3 standard for inspection and maintenance of PV systems.
Defects we reliably identify:
- Hotspots — single overheated cells, often caused by shading, micro-cracks or soiling
- PID damage (Potential-Induced Degradation) — gradual performance losses
- Micro-cracks in solar cells from hail, snow or thermal stress
- Faulty bypass diodes — entire module strings drop out of production
- Substring failures and cell mismatch
- Soiling — bird droppings, leaves, dust layers
- Junction-box connection faults
- Inverter and string-box anomalies
Typical applications:
- Industrial rooftop systems — inaccessible large roofs captured in a single flight
- Utility-scale solar parks — up to 50 MWp per day
- Agri-PV installations — solar and agriculture combined
- Carport and parking PV
- Floating PV
- Acceptance testing for new installations
- Insurance and warranty cases — court-admissible documentation
Business case — what does thermography deliver?
For commercial PV installations a professional drone thermography typically pays back within months. Fraunhofer studies show that most existing systems operate 2–8 % below rated capacity — undetected faults on a 1 MWp plant easily cost €5,000–20,000 per year in lost yield.
Compared to conventional inspection:
- Speed: 1 MWp covered in 30–45 minutes versus 2–3 days of manual string testing
- Coverage: 100 % of all modules inspected, not just samples
- Safety: no rooftop access, no live-string exposure
- Zero downtime — inspection is performed under full operation
- Documentation: geo-referenced imagery, fully traceable
Your inspection report
For every drone thermography we deliver a structured PDF inspection report — and, on request, an interactive online map. Contents:
- Overview orthophoto of the entire installation
- Detailed thermal and RGB imagery for every anomaly
- Defect classification by IEC severity (1–3)
- GPS coordinates of each affected module for easy location
- Recommended actions per defect, prioritised by yield impact
- Benchmark figures to assess overall plant performance
- Clear next-step list (cleaning, module replacement, warranty claim)
On request we complement the thermography with PV analysis, maintenance or optimisation services — just ask.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have my PV plant inspected thermographically?
We recommend an initial inspection after commissioning (acceptance test) and then every 2–3 years. For installations > 1 MWp or after weather events (hail, storm), a short-term inspection is advisable.
What weather conditions are required?
Meaningful thermography requires at least 600 W/m² of irradiance, clear skies and wind speeds below 30 km/h. We schedule flight windows according to weather forecasts.
Is the imagery GDPR-compliant?
Yes. We fly exclusively over your installation, never over neighbouring property. All data is transmitted encrypted and archived or deleted in line with GDPR after project completion.
Which drones do you operate?
We operate professional DJI Matrice drones with Zenmuse H20T and M3T camera modules — classified under the EU drone regulation (Open/Specific Category), with A1/A3 and A2-licensed pilots and full drone liability insurance.
Can you inspect non-PV facilities?
Yes — we also offer thermographic inspection of roofs, industrial facilities and district-heating networks. Contact us directly for specialised applications.
Your next step
Get a free initial assessment of your installation — including a tailored quote based on size and access.