Drone solar inspections, an integral part of operations and maintenance (O&M) practices, have revolutionized the solar industry. By harnessing the power of Vision Aerial’s SwitchBlade and Vector drones equipped with infrared sensors like the Wiris Pro or Wiris Enterprise, solar panel inspections have become highly efficient, cost-effective, and accurate. This article explores the remarkable return on investment (ROI) of drone solar inspections, focusing on the substantial cost savings and time savings they deliver.
Traditional Solar Inspection Methods
Traditional methods like manual inspections and ground-based imaging fall short in terms of cost, time, and accuracy.
Drone Solar Inspections Overview
Vision Aerial’s Solar Inspection System offers unparalleled advantages for solar panel inspections. The system enables access to challenging areas and captures high-resolution images, significantly enhancing inspection efficiency.
Cost Savings
Drone solar inspections using infrared sensors have been estimated to cut thermographic inspection costs of utility-scale solar farms by 30 to 40 percent (Power Engineering). This reduction in costs can be primarily attributed to labor savings. Compared to manual inspections, fewer personnel are required for drone inspections, resulting in substantial cost reductions.
For example, traditional field inspections typically involve inspecting a small 10-25% sample size of modules to save time. This greatly reduces the accuracy of the solar field’s actual efficiency. Assuming a 20% sample size, it would cost approximately $4,375 to inspect a 5MW farm. On average it takes a technician roughly 25 hours to inspect 1MW on foot. At an average wage of $35/hour. In contrast, drone inspections eliminate the need for excessive manual labor and time spent in the field, resulting in significant labor cost savings. (sUAS News)
Time Savings
Drone solar inspections provide remarkable time savings compared to traditional methods. Data collection using infrared imaging for a 75 MW, 500-acre facility can be accomplished within about a week, while traditional methods would take around a month (Power Engineering). This drastic reduction in inspection time enables faster data analysis and quicker decision-making.
Accuracy and Data Analysis
Infrared sensors, coupled with advanced data analysis techniques like machine learning, ensure precise identification of anomalies and hotspots in solar panels (IRENA.org). This high level of accuracy allows for proactive maintenance and optimization, maximizing site performance.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Drone solar inspections deliver a robust ROI by significantly reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency. Industry averages of savings per MW after implementing drones amount to over $1,915 (sUAS News). Solar inspections are typically performed bi-annually or annually. A 100MW solar field with bi-annual drone solar inspections over the course of 5 years would save over $19,000 in labor alone. This does not include savings with efficient data processing, opportunity costs of having 95 to 99 percent accuracy in O&M, or time spent with warranty claims.
Moreover, the industry is facing substantial revenue losses due to underperformance and anomalies in solar assets. An estimated annual revenue loss of $82 million was recorded across analyzed assets in 2022, translating to an average loss of $3,350 per MW (Raptor Maps).
Real-world case studies demonstrate successful implementations of drone solar inspections with infrared sensors and the resulting ROI. By identifying malfunctioning modules and inefficiencies, drone inspections help mitigate revenue losses and ensure optimal system performance.
Conclusion
Drone solar inspections, leveraging infrared sensors, and post processing software like Raptor Maps, have reshaped the O&M landscape in the solar industry. By capitalizing on the significant cost savings and time savings they offer, these inspections unlock remarkable ROI. Embracing drone technology is vital for harnessing the full potential of solar energy and ensuring long-term success of solar installations.
Check out the issue of Inside Unmanned Systems where they feature an in-depth look at how Vision Aerial drones are being used for solar field inspection, and highlighting their unique benefits.