How to Prepare a Solar Site for a Drone Thermal Scan: 7 Essential Steps

A drone thermal scan quickly identifies hidden issues—like hotspots, defective modules, string outages, loose connections, and shading problems. Performing a drone thermal scan during commissioning and regularly for preventative maintenance improves solar system performance, reduces downtime, and helps ensure safer, more reliable solar operations. 

Photo by Day Electric

However, to ensure accurate thermal data, efficient flight time, and minimal disruption to operations, it is essential to properly prepare your site for the drone inspection.

Here are the 7 steps to ensure your site is in optimal condition to perform a drone thermal scan.

1.   Provide Up-to-Date Site Documentation

In order for your pilot to accurately analyze the flight data, it is essential to provide the site’s most up-to-date and accurate as-built drawings, including electrical plans with string mapping and array layout.

2.    Provide Site Access

Confirm instructions for site access, including gate codes. As well as notifying site personnel of the scheduled flight.

3.    Confirm Site Energization

Make sure the system is fully energized and producing. Avoid scans during outages or before PTO is granted. Avoid scans if it is known that a large number of strings/inverters are offline, unless part of the inspection scope.

4.    Pause Major Construction or Operations Onsite

If other construction is going on, it is optimal to pause during flight time, especially if it involves excessive dust or personnel/equipment movements. These additional heat signatures can cause inaccurate data to be present. Inform facility staff or contractors that drone operations will be occurring.

5.    Plan for Optimal Weather (if possible)

Thermal scans will be most accurate if conducted when there is:

• Clear skies with minimal cloud coverage

• In the midday to early afternoon

• No rain or snow

• Minimal wind

6.    Clean Modules if Excessive Soiling Exists

If it is known that the modules have excessive dust, debris, bird droppings, etc on them, this can cause inaccurate thermal data. If it is revealed during the flight that the majority of the modules are soiled, it will be recommended that the modules be cleaned, and an additional scan be performed.

7.    Share Performance Data (Optional but Helpful)

Providing monitoring data or recent alarms can:

• Help target specific strings or inverters

• Improve root-cause analysis after the scan

Looking for a pilot to perform a Drone Thermal Scan?

Day Electric performs drone thermal scans and repair services to owners, operators, and developers in the solar industry. Day Electric’s drone inspections are unique as they are performed by our own in-house UAS-certified drone pilots, who have multiple years’ experience in commercial and utility solar. Thus, our pilots cannot only safely and accurately perform a drone inspection but also analyze the thermal report and create recommended actions and repairs based on the findings.

For drone thermal inspection services on your next project under construction or in operation, reach out to Day Electric at info@dayelectricusa.com.