Our work
Impressions of on-site inspections
The smart inspection concept for any PV plant worldwide
We examine the quality of photovoltaic systems without dismantling.
Are the modules ok? Were they damaged during assembly? Are the yields too low?
Aerial PV inspection identifies and locates faults precisely.
We combine and automate classic and preventive inspections of solar power plants with image-based methods like thermography, electroluminescence and UV-fluorescence measurements, and with IV-curve recording by day and night, isolation issues detection, serial number scan, and geography data referencing.
To this end we employ tripod- and drone-based sensor systems, providing a cost-effective check-up by systematic sampling or 100% screening. EL measurements offer a comprehensive and exact assessment of faults on cell level and thus represent the tower of strength of the AePVI concept.
Electroluminescence analysis, thermography and combined measurements on-site by spezialised tripod- and UAV-systems
Inspection by remote-controlled measurement devices and power multiplexers such as AePVISwitch
Electroluminescence measurement without dismounting and transport of solar modules
Complete electroluminescence measurements or systematic sampling with specialized UAV- and tripod-systems such as AirLabONE and AirBridgeONE
Measurements in one step: additional IV-curve-measurements by day and night, or isolation checks
Electroluminescence measurement and thermography for any PV-plant size worldwide, up to 1,000 images per hour
Depending on request and failure type, featuring automated image analysis
Impressions of on-site inspections
Solar panels produce electricity during the day. If connected to a power supply in darkness, however, they emit radiation in the near-infrared light spectrum, which is not visible by the naked eye.
High-resolution electroluminescence (EL) images look similar to x-ray images. Active cells appear bright to grey, while inactive or damaged cells appear dark to black. The grey scale seen in the images allows to determine the cause and the amount of damage already on-site.
With this image-based qualitative measurements, damages caused by mechanical stresses such as transportation, installation, hail, snow can be quickly detected. Moreover deterioration, broken cells, interconnections and defective by-pass diodes can be recognized as well as malfunctioning panels and strings.
The evaluation of the images is automated and uses machine learning to categorise module faults.
Aerial EL testing is the most cost-efficient method currently on the market for the clear and early detection of solar systems affected by potential-induced degradation (PID).
This testing method can furthermore be used to verify the recovery of PID-affected systems. It also enables the reproduction of sytem documentation in case of false or missing string plans.
January 2023
EL_VI (1) - Combining ELectroluminescence and HDVI
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December 2022
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" (6) – Hail damage detection with EL drone
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November 2022
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" (5) – EL drone inspections on thin-film technologies
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November 2022
Electrolumninescence tripod inspection (5) – High volume commissioning test in laboratory quality
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October 2022
Nothing EL_se Matters (3) - Comparison of imaging methods
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August 2022
aepvi.com news (15) - Infrared imaging of photovoltaic modules - a review
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July 2022
Electrolumninescence tripod inspection (4) – High volume commissioning test in laboratory quality
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June 2022
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" (4) - Electroluminescence is essential for Quality Assurance/QA of PV power plants
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June 2022
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" (3) - Electroluminescence is essential for Quality Assurance/QA of PV power plants
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May 2022
EL review (5) - Different EL sensor platforms for different PV systems
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April 2022
Nothing EL_se Matters (2) - Comparison of imaging methods
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March 2022
EL review (4) - Crack detection with electroluminescence drones – 2018
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Dr. Jan Schlipf
Managing Director
Software
Andreas Fladung
Managing Director
Projects
Get in touch
Aerial PV Inspection GmbH
HRB 21551, Aachen
+49 (0)241 990 3312
Im Johannistal 31a
52064 Aachen
Germany
