From the field
Inspections, technology and the physical state of solar plants.
Are Autonomous Drone Flights Legal at Solar Plants in Europe?
Yes. Drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for solar plant inspection are legal in Europe under the specific category of EU Regulation 2019/947, with a declaration or an authorisation from the national aviation authority.
Fire Prevention in Large Scale Photovoltaic Plants: A Predictive Approach to Risk Management
The exponential growth of photovoltaics in Spain is a key pillar of the energy transition.1 However, this rapid deployment brings with it the need for rigorous analysis of the operational risks inherent in utility-scale assets. Recent…
Are thermal maps necessary in aerial thermography?
Are heat maps simply a powerful visual plant visualization tool or do they serve more purpose? Why are they more expensive than conventional thermography? Are thermal maps a “nice to have” or are they essential for proper thermography?…
How to choose a drone inspection service for utility-scale solar portfolios
Nine criteria, three provider types compared and a checklist of questions to choose a drone inspection service for a solar PV portfolio.
How to document solar module defects for warranty claims and FAC
What evidence a module warranty claim needs, why the window matters and what measured cases show about walk-down versus drone inspection.
Overheated MC4 connectors: how to find them and prioritise the repair
How to find overheated MC4 connectors in a PV plant, prioritise them and close each repair with evidence. Checklist for O&M teams.
Drone-in-a-box inspection of solar plants in Spain: how dock-based BVLOS works and what to ask
How dock-based drone inspections of solar plants work in Spain, what BVLOS authorisation they need from AESA and what to ask a provider before hiring one.
AESA authorises Solardrone to fly with the pilot away from the plant
AESA has authorised Solardrone to fly with the pilot away from the plant, working remotely from Trujillo. How it works, what changes for O&M and its limits.