As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources, solar power has emerged as a popular option due to its eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness. However, the maintenance and upkeep of solar panels can be a challenging task. Fortunately, emerging technologies such as using drones with aerial thermography have the potential to revolutionize solar operations and maintenance (O&M). This article will explore leveraging these emerging technologies in solar O&M to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, increase safety, and minimize maintenance costs.
According to research, the use of drones in solar O&M is expected to grow at a CAGR of 39.2% from 2017 to 2026. Aerial thermal drone-based inspection uses infrared imaging to detect temperature variations in solar PV modules, cables, and other system components.
"Drones inspections were 97% faster than manual inspections. Cost savings due to efficiency gains averaged $1,254 per MW (range of $1074 to $1717 per MW). From a safety perspective, each site managed to almost completely eliminate hazardous man hours by using drones."
Here are five reasons why aerial thermography can be a valuable tool for solar O&M contractors:
Table of Contents
Drone Photo of Damaged Modules
1. Managing Risk & Worker Safety
Managing risk and worker safety are critical aspects of solar O&M. Drones can help with both challenges by providing remote access to solar PV systems and reducing the need for O&M personnel to work in hazardous conditions.
Drones can capture high-resolution images and videos of solar PV systems, allowing O&M personnel to identify potential hazards, such as damage to system components, loose connections, or malfunctioning equipment. This information can be used to develop more effective risk management strategies and ensure worker safety.
Related Article – Why Drones are Essential for Improving Workplace Safety
Solar inspections can be dangerous for workers, as they often require climbing onto roofs or traversing into different degrees of terrain. By providing remote access to solar PV systems, drones can reduce the need for O&M personnel to work at heights and be exposed to electrocution or arc-flash shocks.
The daily tasks of solar O&M can also be physically demanding, requiring personnel to lift heavy equipment, climb ladders, and work in harsh weather conditions. Drones can take on these tasks, reducing the risk of injury and reducing insurance premiums. By identifying potential system issues early, drones can help minimize downtime while reducing the need for O&M personnel to work in these types of hazardous environments.
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.
Thermographic Drone Photo of Underperforming Strings
2. Data Logging & Report Generation
Data logging and report generation are requirements for most solar project sites, as they help O&M personnel monitor the performance of solar PV systems and identify issues before they escalate into larger problems. Drones can play a crucial role in data logging and report generation, providing high-quality data and analytics that can be used to optimize solar PV system performance.
"Think of drones as a part or a node in a broader network that’s gathering data and is interconnected with cloud computing… The drone is simply an autonomous data-gathering machine."
Drones can capture high-resolution images and videos of solar PV systems, providing technicians with accurate and detailed data on the condition of system components. Once reviewed, this data can be compiled into historical records of the site for future reference.
Automating the process of data collection for solar PV systems using drones also offers a notable advantage. A variety of mission planning software applications can be used to program autonomous flights, eliminating the need for manual inspections that are often laborious and time-consuming. As a result, the risk of errors due to human intervention can be reduced, and the data can be collected accurately and consistently.
The data captured by these flights can also be used to generate reports effortlessly, providing O&M personnel with real-time data and analytics that can be used for promptly dispatching crews to problem areas. Using this intelligence, O&M contractors can identify trends and patterns, provide solar clients more value, and make more informed decisions.
By automating the data logging and report generation process, drones can help O&M personnel save time and resources. In addition, this can allow O&M personnel to focus on more critical tasks, such as identifying and addressing potential issues with the solar PV system.
3. Performing System-wide Assessments
Thermal-Equipped Drone Flying Over PV System
A Pilot in Command (PIC), using specialized flight software, can automate drone flights over an entire solar farm, eliminating the need for manual flights and reducing the possibility of human error. During these automated missions, the drone will fly parallel with the solar rows in a back-and-forth pattern, often taking photos every 1-2 seconds with sufficient overlap for quality assurance. By pre-programming a drone with a flight path and local reference points, a single technician can conduct a site-wide assessment of a solar facility.
Once the flight concludes, the data is then imported to be analyzed, cross-checked with known lat-long points, and used to create a map overlay of the site. These advantages result in a significant improvement in the efficiency and safety of site inspections of the past, which often did not cover system-wide.
Video Source: Borrego Solar
4. Skilled Labor Shortages & Increasing Costs
Skilled labor shortages and increasing costs are significant challenges facing the solar O&M industry. In a survey conducted by GTM Research, 51% of solar O&M professionals cited reducing costs as their biggest challenge. Drones can play a crucial role in addressing both challenges, providing a cost-effective and efficient way to manage solar PV systems.
To address these issues O&M companies have several options such as:
- Find more ways to integrate data systems – facilities managers need to lean into data analytics that are both predictive and prescriptive in the maintenance cycles. Data that can be provided by drones either through digital twins or inspections can reduce the need for skilled labor on the ground.
- Regularly audit facility equipment and components – create a system that allows your team to actively track the condition, age, and performance level of every piece of equipment that’s important to your facility. This system can act like a data feed that augments your predictive maintenance intelligence, keeping your team ready for what’s likely next on the repairs or replacement front.
- Create and follow preventative maintenance checklists – automate preventive maintenance which can reduce downtime and lower costs. These inspections can be performed by drones on a regular schedule and do not require teams of engineers and other skilled labor.
Drones have the potential to minimize expenses by eliminating the requirement for several skilled labor positions in all of these alternatives. Moreover, they are significantly more effective in conducting maintenance inspections and gathering data. Consequently, any action an O&M manager can take in these areas will lead to more cost savings for the company.
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.
Utility Ground-mounted Solar Farm
5. Adapting to Changing Technology
Adapting to changing technology is a critical aspect of solar O&M. As new technology emerges, O&M personnel must stay up-to-date and incorporate new tools and techniques into their workflows. For example, a survey conducted by GTM Research found that 55% of solar O&M professionals expect drones to become a standard tool in the industry within the next five years.
One example of an O&M company that has embraced these new and emerging technologies is Borrego O&M, a national team based outside of Boston, MA, and led by Mikael Backman. Borrego operates and maintains over 1,400 sites throughout the continental United States and has moved to use drones for PV sites 1MW or greater to gain scale and cost efficiencies.
"The evolution of technology has enabled us to fly above our problems, quite literally. With the use of thermal imaging and drones, we can now pinpoint the exact location of issues before even arriving on site. No more wasted time testing every string, we can now focus on the ones that need our attention."
Another technology that has impacted the O&M solar industry is remote monitoring systems. With the advent of cloud computing, and the future capabilities of an extremely fast 5G continuously connected network, O&M managers can remotely monitor the performance of solar facilities. These systems can track critical performance parameters, such as energy output, temperature, and humidity, in real-time, allowing for prompt action in case of deviations. Drones provide access to set up these systems through advanced mapping, analysis, and data collection.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have also made significant inroads in the O&M solar industry. With AI and ML, O&M managers can predict and prevent failures by analyzing large amounts of data collected by drones. These technologies can also optimize the performance of solar facilities by analyzing weather patterns and adjusting the solar panels’ positioning.
Video Source: Borrego Solar
The use of drones for utility-scale solar is a new and rapidly evolving technology, providing O&M personnel with access to a range of new tools and techniques for managing solar PV systems. By incorporating drones into their workflows, O&M companies are positioning themselves at the pinnacle of technological advancement, which is important for growth and staying competitive.
"The PV O&M value chain is ripe for digital disruption. Technicians spend 10 hours per MW inspecting solar modules manually, drones can do the same job in 15-18 minutes per MW. Switching from manual to piloted drone inspections reduces time spent per inspection by 97%. The shift from manual to drone inspections can represent over US$1,000 per MW per year in labor cost savings."
Aerial Photo of Floating PV System
Getting Started: Embracing Innovation in Solar O&M
Solar power has emerged as a profitable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. With the increasing concern for sustainable energy sources, solar power is poised to play a significant role in meeting the world’s energy demands, and drones have a significant role to play in that future.
The success of solar power is contingent not only on the excellence of the technology but also on the perception and endorsement of it by solar industry experts. O&M managers must embrace new technologies and tools to enhance their services continually. With the rapid advancements in technology, O&M businesses have access to drones, remote monitoring systems, AI, and ML, which have revolutionized solar asset management. As the demand for solar energy continues to grow, we must remain agile to ensure that existing and future photovoltaic assets deliver optimal performance and contribute to our worldwide goals of sustainable energy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in the renewable energy industry, Greg Shambo has a strong passion for the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. In 2018, Greg joined Borrego as the VP of Business Development for their O&M business, bringing extensive industry knowledge and leadership skills to the team. As part of his role, Greg works closely with customers, partners, and internal staff to expand Borrego's O&M footprint into larger-scale solar and storage projects.
A seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in the renewable energy industry, Greg Shambo has a strong passion for the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. In 2018, Greg joined Borrego as the VP of Business Development for their O&M business, bringing extensive industry knowledge and leadership skills to the team. As part of his role, Greg works closely with customers, partners, and internal staff to expand Borrego's O&M footprint into larger-scale solar and storage projects.
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.
