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Roof Thermography Solar Inspections: A Guide to IEC 62446-3:2017 Standards

Understanding Commercial Roof Thermography Solar Panel Inspections: A Guide to IEC 62446-3:2017 StandardsCommercial roof thermography solar panel inspections are a crucial aspect of maintaining the efficiency and longevity of solar energy systems. These inspections utilise infrared thermography to detect anomalies in the solar panels that may indicate potential issues such as faulty cells, poor connections, or degradation. This non-invasive method allows for quick and accurate identification of problems, enabling timely repairs and optimising the performance of the solar panels. In the UK, the solar energy sector has seen significant growth, as of 2023, data from the Solar Energy UK reveals that the United Kingdom’s total solar capacity has reached an impressive 15 gigawatts (GW). As the industry continues to expand, the need for effective and reliable inspection methods becomes increasingly important. Commercial roof thermography inspections offer a solution, providing a comprehensive assessment of solar panel health without causing any damage to the panels themselves.The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62446-3:2017 standards play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and safety of solar panel inspections. These standards provide guidelines for the use of thermographic inspection methods, outlining the necessary procedures, equipment, and qualifications for conducting effective inspections. Adherence to these standards ensures that inspections are carried out consistently and accurately, reducing the risk of overlooked issues and ensuring the long-term performance of the solar panels. In the context of the UK’s commitment to renewable energy, the IEC 62446-3:2017 standards are particularly relevant. They provide a benchmark for quality, helping to uphold the integrity of the solar industry and ensuring that solar installations continue to deliver optimal performance. By following these standards, businesses can ensure they are meeting their environmental responsibilities while also maximising their return on investment.A Detailed Look at the IEC 62446-3:2017 Standards for Solar Panel InspectionsThe IEC 62446-3:2017 standards provide a comprehensive framework for conducting thermographic inspections of solar panels. They outline the necessary qualifications for inspectors, ensuring that inspections are carried out by trained professionals with a thorough understanding of solar panel systems and thermographic techniques. The standards also detail the required equipment, including the specific types of infrared cameras and software needed to accurately detect and analyse thermal anomalies. Furthermore, the IEC 62446-3:2017 standards provide guidelines for the inspection process itself. They specify the conditions under which inspections should be conducted, such as the optimal weather conditions and time of day. They also outline the procedures for analysing and reporting the results, ensuring that any issues are clearly identified and appropriately addressed.Learn more...#Commercialroofsolarpanelinspections #dronethermalimaging #inspectionofsolarpanels #SolarPanelInspections #ThermalImaging

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Diagnosing Solar Panel Faults with Drone Thermography

Thermal Solar PV Fault DetectionUsing photovoltaic solar panels to meet some or all your electricity needs is a great investment, now more than ever. However, your panels need to be functioning correctly if that investment is to be maximised.Regular Solar Panel ChecksMany solar panel owners don’t know how their installation is performing and of course, as most installations are on rooftops, it can be difficult to physically check them. Also, faults are not always visible to the naked eye! This is where an annual drone thermography inspection can give you all the information that you need with just one or two easy flights conducted by a qualified thermographer and certified drone pilot.When your system was installed, the installation company would have given you a performance estimate that you can use as the benchmark to monitor your panels and make sure they are working as hard for you as possible. Checking the display on your inverter or your accompanying app can easily demonstrate if your solar panels are under performing and if you find that they are not, it’s time to get in touch with a professional to get any faults diagnosed.How Do Solar Panels Work?A standard solar panel or module consists of a layer of silicon cells, a holding frame, a glass covering, and various wiring to allow current to flow from the silicon cells out to the convertor. Silicon is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. When light interacts with a silicon cell, it causes electrons to be set into motion, which initiates a flow of electric current. This is known as the “photovoltaic effect,” and it describes the general functionality of solar panel technology.How To Detect A Faulty Solar Panel?When faults develop with a solar panel the result is that these cells will heat up. This is because the energy generated by the electrons moving around is not flowing through the panel and onto the convertor, and must manifest somehow, it doesn’t can’t just disappear, so the energy becomes heat. This heat is what is detected when viewed with a thermal camera. With multiple solar panels connected in series, when a fault develops in one panel it is likely to take down all the panels connected in the string, resulting in significant loss of energy generation.#dronethermalimaging #Dronethermographer #SolarPanelInspection #solarpanelthermographer

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The Energy Efficiency of your Home

A recent BBC news report states that more than two-thirds of UK homes are failing to meet energy efficiency targets which means that more than 12 million homes fall below the C grade on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Thermal imaging of your home is a fast and effective way to check your energy efficiency as areas of poor insulation, thermal bridging, and heat loss are easily pinpointed.  A drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera in the hands of a qualified thermographer and a flight undertaken under the correct conditions can provide you with a wealth of information that can help you to reduce your energy bills and save money over the long term.  If you are selling your home, then a visual image of your home’s thermal efficiency can be a valuable tool to persuade your buyers to go ahead. Aerial Thermal Surveys The ease of deploying a UAV or drone fitted with a thermal camera versus the cost and inconvenience of scaffolding or a cherry picker means that thermal roof surveys also become both simple and cost-effective – whatever the size of your property. Poorly insulated areas can quickly be identified with targeted maintenance than being carried out to make sure your ‘home’s hat’ is retaining the maximum amount of heat for you to enjoy during the colder months. Drone Media Imaging can arrange for a thermal survey to be carried out in your home with just a few simple, non-invasive flights.  We are happy to advise you in detail the conditions required to be able to create an accurate picture of your home’s heating efficiency. As a guide… There needs to be 10°c difference between the internal and external temperatures. For this reason, we recommend surveys be carried out during the winter months when the outside weather is cooler and your heating is working at full capacity – this will naturally create the required temperature difference.  If you are looking to gain a thermal picture of a building that doesn’t have functioning central heating, you can employ temporary space heaters for a period to create the same effect. Thermal surveys should be carried out when the surfaces are dry so evaporating moisture doesn’t affect the exterior temperature and therefore the resulting thermal image. Winds should be low to avoid altering surface temperatures and to enable safe drone flight. Surveys take place during the evenings to make sure that the effect of the sun’s rays has had time to dissipate. Thermal images capture reflected heat and so exterior surfaces need to be free of solar radiation to avoid any interference with the finished image. Drone Media Imaging are qualified thermographers with state of the art camera and drone equipment.  If you’d like to minimise your heating bills by looking at the integrity of your insulation and identifying areas for improvement, then just get in touch with Drone Media Imaging and we are happy to help.  #domesticthermalimagery #dronepilotsuk #dronethermalimaging #dronethermalimaginguk #drones #homeenergyefficiency

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Solar Panels and Drone Thermal Imaging

Solar energy is becoming more and more popular with both domestic and commercial customers alike. An increasing focus on the perils of climate change has led to a surge in interest regarding renewable energy sources and you don’t have to travel far before you find roof mounted solar panels.   With such interest showing no signs of slowing, solar panels are bound to become more and more part of our everyday lives. How do they Work? When photons or light particle hits the surface of a Photo Voltaic (PV) cell, they knock electrons loose from their atoms.  Where conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides of a cell, this forms an electrical current through which the electrons can flow and generate electricity. These PV cells are linked together to form a solar panel and, in some cases, panels are linked together to form an array. Each of these cells work together in the light of the sun to generate electricity which is fed to an inverter.  The inverter converts the DC current into AC which can be fed into the electrical grid.  Inverters also provide tracking statistics and ground fault protection. How does Thermal Imaging Work? A thermal imaging camera works just in the same way any other camera in that it creates an image via a lens.  However, instead of using visible light as a standard camera would, a thermal imaging camera uses infrared waves and focuses these onto a specialised sensor to create a ‘thermal profile’ of the reflected heat of a surface in comparison with the areas around it.  It can’t see through walls (or clothing despite what some movies suggest!) but instead, it provides an excellent method under the right conditions on assessing heat loss from a building or monitoring solar panel efficiency. How can Drones Assess Solar Panel Effectiveness? A drone mounted thermal imaging camera can offer the perfect solution for assessing the effectiveness of solar panels whether they are in large arrays such as a solar farm or roof mounted domestic installations.  Having a camera in the sky allows a drone pilot to cover large areas quickly and effectively and survey roof panels without the need for ladders, scaffolding or cherry pickers. Flown under the right conditions in the hands of a thermography qualified pilot, a drone thermal image can pinpoint defective modules, highlight future problems and even show panels that are defective to the point of being dangerous. Regular inspection flights can be scheduled with minimal disruption and only a short amount of air time is necessary particularly in the case of domestic installations so peace of mind as to your solar panel’s safety and efficiency can be obtained relatively quickly and cheaply.  #dronethermalimaging #drones #dronesandsolarpanels #solarpanelefficiency #solarpanelmaintenance #thermalimagingandsolarpanels #ukdronepilots  

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