Solar Panels and Thermal Imaging Inspections
The increasing drive towards meeting the nation’s energy needs through renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power has been big news in the construction and energy sectors for a long time now.
Solar panels are incorporated almost as standard onto new building housing and solar farms are no longer an uncommon sight in the English countryside. However, this increased usage also means that there is an increasing demand for maintenance to ensure that the panels are working at maximum capacity and so returning on their investment. Specialised maintenance teams exist to ensure exactly this but the sheer size of solar farms and inaccessibility of roof top installations can mean that preventative maintenance is not a cost effective use of their time. Fixing faults only after they have occurred can result in costly downtime and so to be able to pinpoint issues before they result in failure has to be the holy grail for maintenance firms.
Thermal imaging cameras can offer the perfect solution, particularly when combined with the ability of drones to easily reach inaccessible rooftop installations and to cover large areas both quickly and efficiently.
Annual or biennial inspection flights can be easily achieved with flight patterns stored and reused making direct comparisons possible. As well as pinpointing problem areas to enable maintenance teams to be deployed with precision so their time is used to the maximum efficiency. Additionally, defective modules can be detected just after installation to ensure warranty services are applied for in time. All of this during normal panel operation, so no downtime costs are incurred during the inspection phase. Errors in photovoltaic modules tend to have quite high temperature differences of 10-20 degrees K making thermographic imaging an ideal tool to pinpoint them.
Drone Media Imaing is equipped with the FLIR ZenMuse XT radiometric 640 state of the art camera and a fleet of UAVs. The ZenMuse XT is fully integrated to the drone to offer live flight images at 640×512 resolution and, when combined with the FLIR toolbox, the ability to read the temperature from these images at almost pixel level as well as presenting them in a range of customisable colour palettes.
Photogrammetry For Roof inspections, Solar Panels, and Hard-To-Reach Assets: A Technical Approach
Photogrammetry for roofs, solar panels, and complex vertical structures requires far more precision than standard terrain mapping. This post from explores why traditional workflows fall short and how operators can use tools such as terrain-following, custom camera profiles, circlegrammetry, and automated vertical scanning to achieve consistent results. Packed with real-world examples and scientific validation, it provides a practical technical guide to improving model accuracy, mission repeatability, and inspection efficiency across challenging commercial environments.Capturing quality photogrammetry data from vertical and elevated structures remains one of the trickier challenges in commercial drone operations. Traditional surveying workflows fail here. Kristaps Brass, Product Owner at UgCS, has spent years working with operators who tackle these missions daily. Solar farms, building facades, communication towers, dam inspections. The pattern is consistent: manual flying burns time and money, and processed models show gaps where critical details should be. This article covers what actually works, based on field-tested methods and real operator feedback.
IEC 62446 Solar String Testing Now Available
Drone Media Imaging now offers certified IEC 62446-compliant solar string testing, delivering complete electrical diagnostics for commercial PV systems. This new service verifies string integrity, insulation, voltage, current, and performance using advanced I-V curve tracing and Fill Factor analysis. Ideal for commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance, our testing supports safety, compliance, and ROI assurance. Combined with thermal imaging, we offer a powerful dual-inspection approach. Book today to ensure your solar array is operating safely, efficiently, and within international performance standards.
Level 3 Thermography Reporting Project – 3 Multi-Storey Residential Blocks
We supported a large thermal inspection project across three residential buildings by providing certified Level 3 thermographic reporting based on drone data collected by the client. Using a protocol we developed, they captured radiometric thermal images, which we analysed remotely to identify heat loss, glazing issues, and roof moisture indicators. This collaborative approach showcases how our clients can carry out surveys independently, while we deliver professional-grade thermographic interpretation and reporting — cost-effectively and without needing site access.
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Thermography | Inspections | Solar | Photogrammetry
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