Drone Mapping & Inspection for Solar Power Plants

Solar power plants demand precision from site selection through operations. Aeroyantra delivers survey-grade drone mapping and thermal inspection for solar projects - site assessment, panel inspection, shading analysis, and performance monitoring - giving solar developers and operators the data they need to maximize energy yield and minimize downtime.

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Solar Projects Lose Yield When Site Data and Panel Performance Are Not Measured

Solar power plant performance depends on accurate site assessment, optimal panel layout, and consistent performance monitoring. Visual inspection methods miss problems until they cost you energy yield and revenue.

The pattern repeats across solar operations:

• Site selection decisions made on inaccurate terrain data - Shading analysis, drainage design, and panel layout based on data that does not reflect actual site conditions

• Panel defects detected late - Hot spots, cell failures, and connection issues that reduce yield are not identified until performance drops significantly

• Shading losses are not quantified - Vegetation growth, soiling, and inter-row shading that reduce energy yield are assessed subjectively

• Performance monitoring is reactive - Underperforming panels and strings are identified from SCADA data after energy loss has accumulated

• Vegetation management is subjective - Without consistent aerial monitoring, vegetation encroachment is managed reactively

• As-built documentation is incomplete - Panel layout and facility as-built records do not match actual installation

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Survey-Grade Spatial Data for Solar Power Plants

Aeroyantra delivers drone mapping and thermal inspection workflows purpose-built for solar projects - where site accuracy, panel performance, and energy yield optimization require measured data, not estimates.

With RTK, PPK, and thermal imaging capabilities, Aeroyantra provides site assessment, panel inspection, and performance monitoring data that enables solar developers and operators to maximize energy yield.

What that means for solar operations:

• Accurate site baseline - Survey-grade topographic data for site selection, shading analysis, and panel layout optimization

• Panel defect detection - Thermal inspection identifying hot spots, cell failures, and connection issues before they cause significant energy loss

• Shading analysis - Quantified shading losses from terrain, vegetation, and inter-row effects

• Performance monitoring - Aerial inspection identifying underperforming panels and strings for targeted maintenance

• Vegetation management planning - Consistent monitoring of vegetation encroachment for proactive management

• As-built documentation - Complete aerial record of panel layout and facility infrastructure

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Site Assessment and Layout Optimization

Accurate Site Data Before Design Decisions Are Made

Solar site selection and panel layout decisions made on inaccurate topographic data produce shading losses, drainage problems, and suboptimal energy yield. Aerial surveys provide accurate site data for design optimization.

What Aeroyantra delivers for site assessment:

• High-resolution site orthomosaic - True-color aerial imagery for site layout planning and stakeholder presentations

• Digital Terrain Model (DTM) - Bare-earth surface model for shading analysis, drainage design, and panel layout optimization

• Shading analysis - Terrain-based shading analysis for optimal panel spacing and tilt angle selection

• Slope and aspect mapping - Site slope and orientation analysis for panel layout and foundation design

• Vegetation and obstacle mapping - Identification of trees, structures, and obstacles affecting panel placement and shading

• Access and logistics planning - Aerial data for site access planning, cable routing, and construction logistics

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Panel Inspection and Defect Detection

Detect Panel Defects Before They Cost You Energy Yield

Solar panel defects - hot spots, cell failures, connection issues, and soiling - reduce energy yield and can lead to panel failure. Thermal inspection from drones identifies defects across the entire plant in a single survey.

What Aeroyantra delivers for panel inspection:

• Thermal hot spot detection - Identification of overheating cells and connection issues from thermal imaging

• Cell failure identification - Detection of failed or underperforming cells within panels

• String performance analysis - Identification of underperforming strings for targeted maintenance

• Soiling and contamination mapping - Identification of soiled panels requiring cleaning

• Physical damage detection - Identification of cracked panels, broken glass, and physical damage from high-resolution imagery

• Vegetation shading detection - Identification of panels affected by vegetation shading

Technical Performance:

Parameter	Specification
Thermal resolution	640x512 or higher
Temperature accuracy	±2°C or better
Hot spot detection	Cell-level resolution
Survey speed	50-100 MW per day
Defect classification	Automated hot spot grading
Output formats	Thermal imagery, defect reports, GIS exports

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Performance Monitoring and Yield Optimization

Identify Underperforming Areas Before Energy Loss Accumulates

Solar plant performance monitoring from SCADA data identifies problems after energy loss has occurred. Aerial inspection provides spatial performance data that enables proactive maintenance and yield optimization.

What Aeroyantra delivers for performance monitoring:

• Plant-wide performance mapping - Spatial visualization of panel and string performance across the entire plant

• Underperformance zone identification - Identification of consistently underperforming areas for investigation

• Shading loss quantification - Measurement of energy loss from vegetation, soiling, and inter-row shading

• Cleaning effectiveness assessment - Before-and-after surveys showing cleaning effectiveness and soiling patterns

• Vegetation encroachment monitoring - Time-series monitoring of vegetation growth affecting panel performance

• Seasonal performance tracking - Repeat surveys showing seasonal performance variation and degradation trends

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Construction Progress and As-Built Documentation

Track Installation Progress and Document Final Layout

Solar plant construction - foundation installation, panel mounting, and electrical connection - requires consistent monitoring for schedule management and quality control.

What Aeroyantra delivers for construction monitoring:

• Weekly progress orthomosaics - Aerial imagery showing installation progress across the plant

• Foundation and structure installation tracking - Monitoring of foundation and mounting structure installation

• Panel installation progress - Quantified panel installation progress by block and by total plant

• Cable routing and electrical infrastructure - Aerial mapping of cable trenches, inverters, and electrical infrastructure

• As-built panel layout - Complete aerial record of final panel layout for operations and maintenance

• Facility as-built documentation - Complete aerial record for regulatory submissions and handover

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Complete Deliverables for Solar Projects

Deliverable	Site Assessment	Panel Inspection	Performance	Construction	Closeout
High-res orthomosaic	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Digital Terrain Model (DTM)	✓	-	-	-	✓
Shading analysis	✓	-	✓	-	-
Thermal imagery	-	✓	✓	-	-
Hot spot detection report	-	✓	✓	-	-
Performance analysis	-	-	✓	-	-
Defect classification	-	✓	✓	-	-
Progress tracking	-	-	-	✓	-
As-built documentation	-	-	-	-	✓
Time-series archive	-	✓	✓	✓	✓
GIS-compatible exports	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
PDF inspection reports	-	✓	✓	✓	✓

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Who Uses Aeroyantra for Solar Projects

Aeroyantra is used by solar developers, EPC contractors, O&M providers, and asset managers managing:

• Utility-scale solar power plants
• Rooftop and distributed solar installations
• Solar park development and operations
• Solar O&M and performance optimization
• Solar asset management and monitoring
• Solar project financing and due diligence
• Solar EPC construction and commissioning
• Renewable energy consulting and advisory

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How does thermal inspection detect solar panel defects?

Thermal imaging detects temperature anomalies in solar panels caused by cell failures, connection issues, and bypass diode problems. Defective cells and connections generate excess heat that is visible in thermal imagery. Aeroyantra's thermal inspection identifies these hot spots at cell-level resolution across the entire plant in a single survey.

Q2: How frequently should solar plants be inspected?

Inspection frequency depends on plant size and performance requirements. For utility-scale plants, quarterly thermal inspections are standard for proactive defect detection. For performance optimization, monthly inspections during peak generation seasons are recommended. For construction monitoring, weekly surveys are typical.

Q3: Can Aeroyantra inspect rooftop solar installations?

Yes. Aeroyantra provides thermal inspection and performance monitoring for rooftop solar installations. Drone inspection eliminates the need for roof access while providing complete coverage of the installation.

Q4: Can thermal inspection be conducted on active solar plants?

Yes. Thermal inspection is most effective on active plants under load. Surveys are typically conducted during peak generation hours (10 AM - 2 PM) when panel temperatures are highest and defects are most visible.

Q5: What file formats does Aeroyantra export for solar analysis?

Aeroyantra exports GeoTIFF (orthomosaics and thermal imagery), SHP (defect locations and performance zones), KML (for Google Earth), and PDF (inspection reports). All outputs are compatible with standard solar monitoring platforms and GIS software.

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Ready to Get Started?

Whether you are assessing a new solar site, inspecting panels for defects, monitoring plant performance, or tracking construction progress, Aeroyantra gives your solar operation the aerial intelligence to maximize energy yield.