Advanced Thermography
Benefits of Advanced
Thermography
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01 Reduction in maintenance and repair costs
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02 Maximization of energy production
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03 Prevention of serious electrical damage to solar panels
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04 Data-driven insights for preventive maintenance and service planning
Our expert engineers adhere to the IEC 62446-3:2017 standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission, offering a comprehensive aerial thermography service. This service includes all necessary steps, from data collection and analysis to detailed reporting and visualization of detected thermal anomalies.
We simultaneously capture both visual and thermal images of all inspected solar panels, following a structured data collection process that ensures accurate detection and accommodates specific site requirements.
Our expert engineers utilize specialized thermal software to analyze images, identify thermal anomalies, geolocate issues, and extract all relevant thermal parameters. Additionally, visual (RGB) images are considered to assess the panel’s condition and explain certain thermal issues, such as dirt accumulation, vegetation interference, or surface damage.
After completing the data analysis, a detailed report is generated and delivered to the client. This report contains comprehensive information on the location and type of detected anomalies, along with corresponding thermal parameters and images.
Beyond the report, we offer multiple visualization and storage options for detected anomalies and related data, ensuring easy access and long-term record-keeping for our clients.
Our Products
for Solar Panels
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01
Real-time inspection services with immediate feedback for electrical engineers
Real-time inspection services are typically provided for small solar parks or rooftop installations, where the number of panels is relatively low and the geolocation of problematic cases is easier to pinpoint. These services are commonly used for verifying new installations or supporting maintenance activities. The fast inspection process focuses on detecting thermal anomalies, allowing electrical engineers to quickly address any issues by identifying their exact locations. -
02
Radiometric thermal videos and images for precise analysis
Thermal videos and images are captured following international guidelines for thermography. This ensures that all solar panels in a park are thoroughly inspected, providing a clear overview of their condition. Additionally, by properly analyzing the collected data, temperature values and differences can be calculated for each part of every solar panel. -
03
Thermography maps - radiometric thermal orthomosaics
After proper data collection and processing, thermal images are stitched together to create a radiometric thermal orthomosaic for the entire solar park. This map is typically used to detect and georeference major thermal anomalies. -
04
Digital twin models combining thermal and RGB images
Digital North can develop and deliver a comprehensive digital twin solution using both RGB and thermal orthomosaics. With the digital twin model, users can view both data sources for the same area simultaneously, providing a clearer understanding of the situation and enabling more informed decision-making. -
05
Thermal anomalies detection and precise localization
Besides capturing thermal data, we also analyze it to detect solar panels with thermal anomalies. Each problematic case is then georeferenced using the facility's internal reference system or by providing absolute coordinates to the user. This ensures that electrical engineers are informed of the precise locations they need to visit to address the issues. -
06
Temperature delta (ΔT) analysis for anomaly cases
By considering multiple parameters such as humidity, environmental temperature, the distance between the drone and the solar panel, and the respective irradiance values, absolute temperature values can be calculated for each part of the solar panel. This allows for calculating the temperature differences (ΔT) between hotspot areas and the surrounding regions for each detected anomaly. Apart of the type of the electrical problem, the temperature delta (ΔT) serves as the main indicator of the severity of the issue. -
07
Custom diagnostic reports tailored to client needs
A detailed report is created and provided to the client, containing all necessary information about the data collection and analysis workflow, as well as a detailed analysis of each detected problematic solar panel. The report includes corresponding RGB and thermal images for each case, along with the respective temperature delta (ΔT) and feedback on the type of issue identified. The entire process for creating this diagnostic report follows international standards from IEC for thermographic inspections. -
08
Blueprint creation for solar panel installations
A precise blueprint for each solar park is essential, as it serves as the common reference system between electrical engineers and inspection engineers. By creating the blueprint file, each solar panel in the park is assigned a unique ID in addition to its absolute coordinates. These ID numbers are used to georeference problematic cases, helping maintenance personnel navigate the park and resolve issues efficiently.
Sample of thermal
anomalies
Case studies
2 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Rooftop PV system – Greece
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Rooftop PV system – Switzerland
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
1 MWp Rooftop PV system – Switzerland
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Solar Park – Greece
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
2 MWp Solar Park – Greece
500 kWp Rooftop PV system – Greece
1 MWp Solar Park – Greece
500 kWp Solar Park – Greece
3 MWp Solar Park – Greece
