Why should use a qualified thermographer to inspect you solar panels?

Using a qualified thermographer to inspect your solar panels is essential for ensuring the optimal performance and longevity of your investment. A thermographer is trained and knowledgeable in the field of thermal imaging and can accurately identify any potential issues or defects in your solar panels.

By utilising their expertise, they can detect diode anomalies, cell hot spots, potential induced degregation (PID), or other hidden problems and faults that will not be visible to the naked eye. This early detection can prevent further damage, reduce the risk of system failure, and ultimately save you time and money on repairs or replacements. Additionally, a qualified thermographer will provide you with a detailed analysis and comprehensive report, outlining the current condition of your solar panels and offering recommendations for maintenance or improvements.

Overall, investing in a certified thermographer’s inspection will ensure the optimal performance and efficiency of your solar panels, maximising your return on investment and promoting a sustainable energy future.

How does thermal imaging of solar panels work and what are its benefits in assessing their performance?

Thermal imaging of solar panels is a technique used to detect and analyse the temperature distribution across solar panels. It involves the use of specialised cameras that capture infrared radiation emitted by objects. Solar panels, when operating optimally, should have a uniform temperature distribution. However, factors like faulty connections, dirt accumulation, or damaged cells can cause temperature variations, indicating potential anomalies and issues.

The infrared camera detects these temperature differences, and the captured images (thermograms) are then processed to create thermal maps of the panels. This enables solar panel thermographs to identify specific areas that require maintenance or repair, helping to maximise energy production and efficiency. Additionally, thermal imaging can also be used for preventive maintenance, as it allows early detection of potential problems before they cause significant damage.

All objects with a temperature above ‘absolute zero’ (equivalent to −273.15°C on the Kelvin scale) give off infrared radiation (heat). Thermal imaging technology is designed to detect the intensity of this radiation, and after consideration of other factors, determines the objects temperature as it is emitted from its surface. A thermal imaging camera (or infrared camera) is designed to detect the radiation intensity and render the different temperature values recorded as artificial colours so that the human observer can “see visibly” the temperature differences and the overall temperature picture.

When undertaking thermal inspections, we use sophisticated thermal imaging cameras with detector/sensor sizes up to 640×480 pixels for aerial inspections by drone and 320×240 pixels for ground handheld inspections.

In digital camera terms, this may appear to be a very low resolution, but it should be noted that all thermographic sensors are small by design and that the data captured is equivalent to a thermometer in each cell/pixel; a maximum of 307,200 thermometer readings in every image for a 640×480 sensor. Alongside each thermogram we also take a normal small RGB digital photograph so the viewer is correctly orientated when looking at the Thermogram, this RGB digital photograph is of low resolution and should only be used for an overview.

The Thermographic Inspection Process

Thermal imaging is a reflective temperature technology and can only return the temperature radiated off a given surface, not specifically what is underneath or behind the surface i.e. infrared cannot see through walls or roofs, including glass. While we attempt to collect and record the data accurately, the specific values obtained should be regarded with a degree of caution and understanding. Variable environmental conditions together with changes in camera angle, subject distance, and object’s material construction, along with changes in the emissivity of the surface inspected, can all effect the results.

However, as heat permeates the substances surrounding the heat source via conduction, convection, or radiation, it therefore remains worthy of analysis and presents an opportunity to indicate several ‘out of sight’ faults or failures and thermal activities. By combining images with equal parameters within a known consistent environment, the ‘relative’ change of temperature across a selected material/subject will be accurate and therefore useful analysis can be made. The inspection and this subsequent report should be considered as a “Qualitative Evaluation” inspection and not a “Quantitative Evaluation” which would show accurate temperature values/data.