Why Solar Farms Need Drone Inspection
Singapore is rapidly expanding its solar energy capacity, with thousands of rooftop and ground-mounted PV installations across HDB blocks, commercial buildings, industrial roofs, and floating solar farms on reservoirs. These installations represent significant capital investment, and their performance depends on every panel operating at peak efficiency.
Solar panel defects — hotspots, cracked cells, delamination, junction box failures, and string-level connection issues — reduce energy output while often remaining invisible to the naked eye. A single faulty cell can reduce an entire string's output by 30% or more. Thermal drone inspection detects these defects by identifying temperature anomalies that indicate underperforming panels.
For solar EPC contractors, asset owners, and O&M providers managing installations across Singapore, drone inspection is the most efficient method to survey large PV arrays. What takes days with handheld thermal cameras from ground level can be completed in hours from the air, covering thousands of panels per flight.
What Solar Drone Inspection Detects
Hotspot Detection
Individual cells generating excess heat due to cracking, shading damage, or manufacturing defects. These hotspots reduce output and can cause panel fires if left unaddressed.
String Failures
Entire strings showing uniform temperature differences indicate connection or inverter issues. Thermal imaging identifies affected strings for targeted troubleshooting.
Diode Failures
Bypass diode failures cause distinct thermal patterns — typically one-third of a panel showing elevated temperature. These reduce panel output significantly.
Physical Damage
Cracked glass, delamination, snail trails, and bird damage visible on high-resolution visual imagery captured simultaneously with thermal data.
Solar Inspection Pricing
| System Size | Visual + Thermal | Full Report |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 kWp | $1,200 — $2,000 | $1,800 — $2,800 |
| 100 — 500 kWp | $2,000 — $3,500 | $2,800 — $5,000 |
| 500 kWp — 1 MWp | $3,500 — $6,000 | $5,000 — $8,000 |
| Over 1 MWp | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
Full reports include panel-level defect identification, severity classification, estimated energy loss calculations, and prioritised replacement recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Free Inspection Quote
WhatsApp us your project details — we reply with a quote within 2 hours. No obligation.