How are Drones being used in the solar energy industry?

A drone’s ability to cover vast areas with high-resolution aerial images makes it a tool that companies rely on to optimise their efficiency.

So what better way to aid the solar energy industry than using drone technology.

With the use of thermal sensors, companies are becoming even more efficient in their procedure of gathering data.

In response to the growing concerns of climate change and carbon emissions there has been no better reason to focus on renewable energy.

Traditionally, solar panel inspections are carried out using handheld thermal imagers to check for defective cells and cables.

But now, drones can eliminate the risk element on having people working in hazardous situation and data can be recorded more efficiently.

Drones such as the DJI Matrice 210 RTK V2, equipped with the XT2 thermal payloads can survey large areas within a solar farm, collecting high-resolution thermal images in one single flight.

Drones reduce inspection time by 70% in comparison to traditional methods.

How does the process work?

Firstly, after evaluating the Ground Sample Distance (GSD) and the battery capacity of the drone, the maximum area that the drone can cover can then be confirmed. These flight plans are then inputted into the DJI Pilot app, allowing the operators execution to be carried out.

Depending on the solar farm dimensions, an estimated 25 flights can be carried out allowing up to 6,500 images per day.

Ends

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