Solar Panels
Inspections for Owners and Installers
As the widespread installation of solar panels in the UK is a relatively new development there are some misconceptions surrounding maintenance. For example most people to date have treated them as a "fit and forget" technology not realising that they do need to be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure optimum output, installation integrity and safety.
They can be damaged by storm events, large hail stones, tree branches, slates and tiles and other debris. In addition rodents can damage cables and joints, birds can build nests under them creating a fire risk and sea gulls and bigger birds can reduce module efficiency through soiling and droppings.
A relatively short drone inspection can provide a close up look in both the visual and infra red spectrums providing high resolution images, evidence of anomalies, damage and ultimately peace of mind. All undertaken without having to compromise anyones safety and providing the owner or installer with the information required to make better informed, money saving decisions.
An infra red inspection of solar panels can show up anomalies like these in the left hand picture which would otherwise be missed by the naked eye in the right hand picture
This rodent damage would show up when the drone was imaging in infra red and lead the owner to organise further inspection and repair
Whilst hail storm damage as extensive as this is relatively rare, it is becoming clear that with climate change weather events are becoming more localised and extreme in nature