A solar field’s optimal performance is affected by a variety of factors, all of which must be monitored carefully to maintain peak efficiency. As drone technology continues to enhance solar field inspections, understanding the different issues that can compromise your solar panels’ functionality is crucial. Here, we highlight the most common problems discovered during aerial drone inspections and their impact on the overall solar field efficiency.
Module Level Anomalies: The most frequent issues detected during aerial inspections pertain to individual solar modules. These include cell hot spots, multi-cell hot spots, and activated bypass diodes. While these issues may seem minor initially, if left unchecked, they can reduce the PV system’s efficiency and develop into more serious problems over time.
Shadowing: Shadows on solar panels, whether cast by adjacent rows, surrounding structures, or vegetation, can obstruct sunlight and reduce energy production. While not all shadowing requires immediate attention, vegetation-induced shadowing can cause more significant issues if not addressed promptly.
Shattering & Soiling: Drone inspections also help identify physical problems, such as shattered panels caused by severe weather, installation errors, or maintenance. Additionally, soiling caused by dust, bird droppings, or other debris can reduce a solar panel’s efficiency.
String Level Issues: String anomalies represent some of the most severe issues detected during drone inspections. These anomalies, including warm or offline strings, reversed polarity, or total failure, can lead to considerable energy loss within the PV system.
Tilt Tracker Alignment and Racking Issues: If your solar farm uses tilt trackers, misalignments can occur, limiting the panels’ sun exposure and reducing efficiency. Routine drone inspections can detect and help rectify these alignment discrepancies.
Combiner Off-nominal or Offline: Combiner issues, either being off-nominal or offline, can greatly hinder a PV system’s efficiency. These issues often manifest as entire rows of panels showing abnormal warmth in thermal imagery, suggesting immediate maintenance is required.
Inverter Off-nominal or Offline: Similarly to combiners, inverters also play a critical role in solar fields. If an inverter is warm or offline, it can significantly disrupt power production.
Discrepancies from As-Built – Missing Modules, Incorrect Build: Sometimes, the actual construction of a solar field may differ from the as-built documents, indicating missing modules or incorrect builds. These discrepancies can dramatically affect DC power production and are often more noticeable from an aerial perspective.
Weather Damage: Solar fields are continually exposed to weather elements, which can cause severe damage. Tornadoes, high-speed winds, hail, and flooding can shatter or displace modules, severely affecting the PV system’s health and performance.
Delamination and Other Potential Module Anomalies: Other issues, such as delamination and various module defects, can occur in both new and old sites. These anomalies, which can manifest in several forms, can be detected through thermal or RGB imagery during drone inspections.
A thorough understanding of these common issues, along with regular drone inspections, can help maintain the optimal performance of your solar farm.
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