Photovoltaic inspection

Solar panel inspection
by drone

A drone solar panel inspection flies a thermal camera and a high-definition camera over a solar farm or a photovoltaic roof to identify the modules that are not producing normally. Thermal anomalies are detected and then tied to their exact position in the array.

Request a quote See all our services

Why use a drone

Find faulty modules without walking the array

Checking a photovoltaic installation by hand means testing strings one by one, walking between the tables or moving across a roof. It takes time, and a diffuse drop in output easily goes unnoticed. The drone covers the whole array in one flight and brings back a complete thermal map.

A faulty module heats differently from its neighbours: cell hot spots, failed bypass diodes, inactive substrings and soiling show up immediately on the thermal image. Every anomaly is located, so a team can be sent straight to the right place instead of searching.

Whole array covered in a single visit
Thermal anomalies located module by module
No panel removal and no walking on the roof
Production maintained during the inspection

Deliverables

Our photovoltaic inspection services

The protocol is adapted to your installation: ground-mounted plant, solar carports, industrial or commercial roof.

Infrared thermography of the modules

Thermal survey of the whole array, highlighting hot spots, degraded cells and inactive substrings.

High-definition visual capture

Photographic survey of modules and structures: breakage, delamination, soiling, cast shadows, damage to frames and fixings.

Anomaly mapping

Defects reported on a plan of the installation, with table and module references, to send the maintenance team straight to the point.

Inspection of supporting structures

Visual check of supports, carport structures and anchor points, including areas that are hard to reach.

Inspection report and monitoring over time

A commented report of the anomalies found, repeatable from one campaign to the next to track how the plant evolves.

Use cases

When clients call us in

Unexplained drop in output on a solar plant
Acceptance check after an installation is commissioned
Annual preventive maintenance campaign
Assessment after hail, storm or an electrical incident
Technical audit before acquiring or selling a portfolio

Frequently asked questions

Does production have to be stopped during the inspection?

No, quite the opposite: the installation has to be producing for temperature differences to reveal faulty modules.

What conditions does thermography require?

Sufficient and stable sunshine, moderate wind and a settled sky. We plan the flight slot around these criteria to guarantee usable imagery.

Which anomalies are detected?

Cell hot spots, failed bypass diodes, inactive substrings, disconnected modules, soiling and shading, as well as visible damage to frames.

Does the drone replace an electrical test?

No. It targets the areas to check and avoids testing the whole installation blind; electrical measurements are still carried out by your maintenance provider on the identified points.

What size of installation can you cover?

From a roof of a few hundred square metres to a ground-mounted plant of several hectares, splitting the flight into several sequences where needed.

Our method

How a mission unfolds

Four steps, from the first conversation to the delivery of your data.

01
Scoping
We define together the perimeter, the accuracy required and the format of the deliverables.
02
Flight preparation
Feasibility study, analysis of site constraints and regulatory procedures.
03
On-site acquisition
Our remote pilots operate on site, without interrupting your activity.
04
Processing and delivery
Data processing, quality control and delivery of annotated results.

Nationwide coverage

We operate everywhere in France

Dronexperts operates across the whole of France. Our professional drone pilots travel to wherever your site is, anywhere in the country, and across Europe for the specific missions our industrial clients require.

Our 5 registered training centres — Paris West (Beynes, 78), Strasbourg (Schiltigheim, 67), Toulouse (Labarthe-sur-Lèze, 31), Marseille/Toulon (Le Castellet, 83) and Bordeaux (Mérignac, 33) — act as anchor points so we can reach every region quickly. They are starting bases, not a limit: we operate throughout France, with the same procedures, the same insurance cover and the same standards from one end of the country to the other.

Paris West — Beynes (78)

Our anchor point in Île-de-France: Paris, the inner and outer suburbs and the wider Paris basin.

View the office page

Strasbourg — Schiltigheim (67)

Our Grand Est base: Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse, Metz, Nancy, Reims and the German and Swiss border areas.

View the office page

Toulouse — Labarthe-sur-Lèze (31)

Our Occitanie base: Toulouse, Montpellier, Albi, Tarbes, Perpignan and the whole South-West.

View the office page

Marseille / Toulon — Le Castellet (83)

Our Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur base: Marseille, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and the Mediterranean coast.

View the office page

Bordeaux — Mérignac (33)

Head office and historical base of Dronexperts, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Limoges, Pau, Bayonne.

View the office page

Is your site far from all five centres? That is not a problem: our bases are starting points, not a service perimeter. We organise travel for the team and the equipment anywhere in France, and across Europe for specific missions, on quotation.

Explore