The commissioning process represents a pivotal stage in renewable energy to ensure a solar project is not only operational but also performing at its peak efficiency. In this case study we will examine the development of a 10 megawatt (MW) solar project, and how drone thermography inspections were utilized during the commissioning process.
Table of Contents
Utilizing Drones for Enhanced Site Commissioning
Precision in drone inspections is vital during the solar commissioning process. The data collected will directly contribute to both the optimal performance and long-term viability of an installation. To complete a system-wide thermal analysis, The Drone Life was called to carry out a detailed inspection by the project’s EPC contractor.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
Techniques for Exposing Warrantiable Items on Your PV Sites.
A Proven Roadmap for Successfully Implementing Drones in Solar.
Strategies for Identifying DC Losses and Avoiding Downtime.
Drone-based thermography inspections were conducted to finalize the handover process of the new solar project. There were many advantages to using drones to evaluate the project’s overall efficiency and performance such as:
- Site Coverage: the entire 10 MW solar facility was inspected in only half a day.
- Detailed Reporting: Stakeholders received a detailed inspection report offering actionable insights for optimization, conducted to IEC standards.
- Setting a Benchmark: the initial commissioning phase sets a benchmark for future inspections.
- Overall Site Health: the assessment of the site identified numerous issues that impacted overall performance and system health.
- Cost-Effective Method: drones provided a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, minimizing the need for manual labor and equipment.
Inspection Summary and Analysis
This section provides a comprehensive overview of the inspection report offered by The Drone Life. The final data report provided insights into the overall health of the solar installation, highlighted the percentage of impacted modules, and provided specific follow-up suggestions for anomalies.
The inspection report indicated that 3.46% (716 modules) of the 20,686 modules in the solar farm were impacted by anomalies. The technical analysis provided to stakeholders recommended specific follow-up actions to correct the anomalies, including the inspection of ribbon connections and diode functionalities for heated substrings and heated junction boxes. Additionally, for multiple hot cells and hot spots, cleaning of modules, vegetation maintenance, on-site visual inspections, and submission of manufacturer warranty claims were suggested.
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A power loss estimation based on the report amounted to 0.36%. The anomalies are categorized based on evidence from thermal images, and a thorough visual spectrum analysis was conducted to identify root causes, including physical damage, soiling, or shading. The temperature analysis involves measuring the peak temperature and mean background temperature of a normal working neighboring module, providing the temperature gradient (ΔTm) for the anomaly.
Getting Started with Drone Commissioning Inspections
The Drone Life is a licensed, professional, and reliable drone service provider with extensive experience in solar commissioning inspections. This dependable service fosters long-term partnerships with EPCs and developers, adding a crucial component to this exciting project.
At The Drone Life, our team of drone professionals works one-on-one with your organization to develop turnkey aerial data solutions for each solar project. Regardless of the stage or size of the job, our clients receive custom-tailored service that fits their unique needs. If you’re interested in learning more about drone inspections or aerial progress tracking, schedule a free consultation with one of our drone experts.
What's included in YOUR GUIDE...
Techniques for Exposing Warrantiable Items on Your PV Sites.
A Proven Roadmap for Successfully Implementing Drones in Solar.
Strategies for Identifying DC Losses and Avoiding Downtime.
