Drones in solar parks: how UAS can contribute to the energy transition

There are many possibilities for UAS to increase productivity and cut operating costs in solar parks. The spectrum ranges here from planning and monitoring construction progress as well as maintenance and repair projects to protecting critical infrastructure. This not only creates new business models for the drone economy; drones also directly contribute to the expansion of renewable energies with this.

Alongside PV systems on individual buildings, large solar parks play a particularly important role in increasing the contribution of solar energy to a sustainable energy transition. On the extensive areas that have to be developed and managed for that matter, UAS can be employed in a variety of meaningful ways. Even before the construction phase proper drones can render valuable services by delivering high-precision arial photography in no time. After all, such photos are indispensable to assess the geographical conditions of a possible location for a solar park and to ensure that they comply with the specifications laid down in the planning concept.

Detect degradation

Once the PV systems have been commissioned an inspection of the installed PV modules is required at regular intervals. Traditionally, portable heat-map cameras have been used for this in many places or so-called IV-curves are evaluated to identify shadowing issues or the age-related reduction of efficiency rates (degradation). Here drones can be used to streamline the time-consuming and labour-intensive processes by contributing to a faster and more precise detection of defect modules be means of high-resolution heat maps.

Dirt deposits are also a nuisance for PV system operators since these can substantially affect the efficiency of PV modules. With the help of UAS the systems can be flown over to check cleanliness and optimise cleaning schemes on a daily basis. Even UAS-assisted cleaning of likely difficult to access systems is possible. This optimises energy production, can save cleaning costs at the end of the day and even help cut repair and maintenance costs.


> This feature was produced in cooperation with Drones, the magazine for the Drone Economy. www.drones-magazin.de