Thermal inspection of roofs and solar panels by drone
The thermal camera on the drone reveals defects on roofs and solar panels invisible to the naked eye.
Why Thermal Drone Inspection
Roofs and photovoltaic plants are places that are hard to access and where defects only show when they cause real damage. A thermal camera on a drone can detect problems before they become expensive.
- Faster — a residential roof scan takes just 15 minutes.
- Safer — nobody needs to climb on the roof.
- More precise — thermal images from above capture the entire surface evenly.
What the Thermal Camera Reveals
On Roofs
- Thermal bridges and insufficient insulation
- Moisture and water infiltration spots
- Damaged insulation layers
- Leaks around chimneys and penetrations
On Solar Panels
- Hot spots — overheated cells signaling a defect
- Delamination and micro-cracks
- Bad connections and connectors
- Contamination reducing performance
How the Inspection Works
- Preparation — ideally in clear weather, morning or evening.
- Flight — the drone with thermal camera (DJI Mavic 3T) scans the entire surface.
- Processing — thermal images are overlaid with RGB photographs.
- Report — output report with marked defects and recommendations.
Case Study: 200-Panel PV Plant
During inspection of a 200-panel PV plant, we identified 12 panels with hot spots and 3 panels with advanced delamination. The total performance loss was estimated at 15–20%, costing the owner an annual loss of over $1,500.
The inspection took 45 minutes. The replacement of faulty panels paid for itself within one season.
When to Perform Thermal Inspection
| Object Type | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Residential houses | Once every 3–5 years |
| Commercial buildings | Once a year |
| PV up to 50 kWp | Once every 2 years |
| PV over 50 kWp | Once a year |
Conclusion
Thermal drone inspection is an investment that typically pays for itself with the first defect found. Preventive inspection is always cheaper than repair.
