Location: Minnesota, United States
Size: 5.9 MWdc
Service: Turnkey Service and Report
Inspection Level: Raptor Standard
Reason for Inspection: Annual Inspection
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]]>Anomalies Identified
Power Loss
Annual Financial Loss
16 Anomalies
2,853 Modules Affected
391.4 kW
6.71% Affected
$17,450 Lost
if Anomalies Unresolved
SITE INTRODUCTION
The owner’s 6 MW solar PV system was recently inspected as part of an annual preventative maintenance inspection using Raptor Maps turnkey services. A pilot was deployed within one week of the inspection request. The Raptor Standard level inspection took three hours of on-site piloting and provided the O&M team with sub-modular anomaly details through thermal and visual spectrum imagery. Raptor Standard level inspections can show anomalies from the inverter level down to the cell level. The inspection uncovered 490 system anomalies, categorized into 16 anomaly types, and amounting to 2,853 affected modules.
The owner’s 6 MW solar PV system was recently inspected as part of an annual preventative maintenance inspection using Raptor Maps turnkey services. A pilot was deployed within one week of the inspection request. The Raptor Standard level inspection took three hours of on-site piloting and provided the O&M team with sub-modular anomaly details through thermal and visual spectrum imagery. Raptor Standard level inspections can show anomalies from the inverter level down to the cell level. The inspection uncovered 490 system anomalies, categorized into 16 anomaly types, and amounting to 2,853 affected modules.
Some anomalies to note were instances of tree line shading, which affected over 2,200 modules, and combiner issues, affecting 324 modules. In addition, there were 3 strings and 68 individual diode faults discovered.
The owner’s O&M subcontractor used the deliverables to identify the most impactful and easily remediated anomalies within the site. The deliverables enabled them to set up a plan to resolve all non-shading related anomalies within two weeks of the site inspection. The team started with the malfunctioning combiners to resume the 1.78% of lost production. The O&M team was already aware of the shading issues impacting the site, however, the shading impact had never been quantified. The O&M team used this new data to create a plan to resolve the onsite issues causing the shading and performance loss.
This findings table has been filtered to show high priority issues only.
The case study above was published by Raptor Maps, Inc and its purpose is to aggregate findings to provide a benchmark for PV system status to improve and strengthen the PV industry. This report draws from the Raptor Maps data repository and includes an overview of aerial thermography findings and the relative impact on PV systems.
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]]>To use Simply Drones to streamline the warranty claims process, begin by purchasing a Simply Comprehensive solar inspection.
Hot spot and multi cell anomalies are characterized by a significant thermal differential between the defective module and the adjacent module. For example, one manufacturer considers a temperature difference between two adjacent cells of 20 or more degrees Celsius evidence of a defective module, where the hotter module is defective.
Once your comprehensive inspection is complete, you will receive a CSV file showing the difference in temperature (“temperature deltas”) compared to the surrounding for each anomaly identified, as well as linked images (IR and RGB).
Sort this data to determine which anomalies show temperature deltas greater than 20 degrees celsius:
t_min_deg_C
27.5
27.5
27.5
28.8
21
22.7
23
26.9
26.9
30.3
24.9
24.9
t_max_deg_C
83.1
83.1
83.1
84.8
64.2
64.1
59
50.8
50.8
52.5
46.1
46.1
t_mean_deg_C
29.9
29.9
29.9
31.8
23.9
25.3
26.3
30
30
32.6
27.2
27.2
t_delta_deg_C
53.2
53.2
53.2
53.1
40.3
38.9
32.8
20.9
20.9
19.9
18.9
18.9
Use the location information in the file to find the associated anomaly on the map:
The map location provides links to both an RGB and IR image associated with the anomaly:
IR image associated with the anomaly
RGB image associated with the anomaly
Pair the thermal information and image with the module serial number to document your warranty claim. You can add a column to your CSV spreadsheet to input associated information, such as serial numbers.
Need more help? Contact us and we are happy to help you follow up with your module manufacturer.
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]]>Specifically, you can:
Assess the financial impact of defects on power generated by a solar site
Distribute the solar inspection report to others
Access to a CSV file format report to include in more detailed analysis
The following outlines how we use Raptor Maps to review and report on anomalies impacting your solar site power production. The example is based on a Raptor Maps Standard inspection, which identifies anomalies to the diode, hot spot, and cell level.
Once your report is available, begin by taking a look at the Site Overview.
This will provide you with context in terms of the site size (in MW DC) and module type:
Site overview:
Power
Module Name
Module Tech
Module Layout
Inverters
Mount
Site Layout
5.39 MWdc
Canadian Solar CS6X-315P 315W
Polycrystalline
19 modules per string
Eaton PSX-1500
RBI Fixed Tilt
Single Site
Next, we review the Findings table.
This table summarizes the anomalies and estimates the impact of the defects on power generated by the site:
Findings:
We can adjust the values used to calculate the estimated annual and hourly impact based on the PPA rates your project uses:
To distribute the report, we will share an external link with the deliverables.
You can email the link to others and provide a read-only view of the report:
You can also print the report to a PDF file.
To include report data in other financial analysis, we will attach two exported CSV files, the summary and the detailed findings of your report.
Export the files to Excel or other spreadsheet programs. You can then provide detail to any financial analysis associated with the site inspection.
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]]>The post Inspection for solar site maintenance appeared first on Simply Drones.
]]>Specifically, the report enables maintenance crews to:
- Review a list of defects identified during a solar site inspection.
- Prioritize each anomaly, enabling the most serious issues to be addressed first.
- Find the defective components on the ground so that they can be repaired or replaced.
Review the following to learn how we use Raptor Maps to identify, prioritize, and locate defects requiring maintenance attention. The example is based on a Raptor Maps Standard inspection, which identifies anomalies to the diode, hot spot, and cell level.
Note that Raptor Maps also provides APIs to enable us to directly integrate Raptor Maps analytics with your work order management system. Contact us for more information.
Once your report is available, find the list of findings in the Report view:
Findings:
The list shows that four strings are defective, impacting 76 modules. These anomalies have the greatest impact on power available, and so have highest priority for maintenance.
We can adjust the power purchase agreement rates used to calculate the estimated annual impact, let us know if you have a specific value you want us to use for the report.
To assign priority, scroll down the report to the Anomaly Location table:
Anomaly location:
Based on historical customer feedback, Raptor Maps analytics has assigned a high priority to these string anomalies. However, it can be changed to the specific priority every asset has (the anomaly that is creating major power losses).
Next, determine where the defective strings are located. From the Report view, click on the Globe icon in the left-hand toolbar to go to the Map view.
In this Map view, we’ve used the Map Layer Option to restrict the display of anomalies to those related to Strings:
Use the site map and location information associated with the anomaly to find the defective component on the ground.
Expert tips:
From the map view, we can click on the appropriate export icon to export the anomaly and mapping data to a file for upload to mapping software such as Google Earth, as shown below. The .shp file provides compatibility with ArcGIS and QGIS.
Export icons
Import the files to mapping software and it will provide the latitude and longitude for each anomaly:
Example from Google Maps
To better understand the numbering scheme used to reference anomaly location, review the Localizing Anomalies section in the report view. The numbering scheme is either provided by the customer or is the Raptor Maps default.
Anomaly location:
Section
Module
Combiner from as-built
String from as-built
Module_X increments west to east
Localization Diagram
You can have access to the report through to your mobile device, and use it to locate anomalies on-site.
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]]>More serious defects have higher temperature differentials. Many manufacturers consider a temperature differential greater than 20 degrees evidence of a defective module, where the hotter module is defective. Anomalies are not always stable and can vary from one day to the next, depending on the conditions at the time of inspection.
Anomalies showing smaller temperature differentials, especially less than 10 degrees, may not require immediate attention but generally continue to degrade over time.
Common causes of anomalies include:
- Damage during installation
- Shading
- Soiling
- Vegetation
- Cracking
- Manufacturing defect
- Weather events (lightning, hail, wind)
- Suboptimal grounding
- Module degradation (for example, delamination)
- Fuse or connector failure (for strings)
An RGB image can assist in determining the cause of the anomaly. For example, the RGB image confirms vegetation as the cause of this multi cell anomaly:
The value of a solar inspection is that it provides insight into the impact of anomalies on power production.
Due to solar site design, some anomalies have bigger impact than others. A solar site uses silicon solar cells to convert the energy of sunlight into electricity. The power generated is made available to the grid by means of strings, combiners, and finally inverters, which feed into the point of interconnection.
When assessing anomaly impact on power production, it’s important to consider that outages of components such as combiners and inverters result in a greater reduction in power production than individual cells.
Anomaly Impact (DC)
Little (Watts)
Medium (Kilowatts)
Large (Megawatts)
Cell
Diode
Module
String
Combiner
Inverter
The analytics software uses a power factor to take into account that, for example, a string outage will have much greater impact on overall power production than a cell outage.
For more information, refer to Calculating impact of anomalies and power factors.
Our analysis report is provided by Raptor Maps and checks for all of the following anomalies:
We identify about 36 different anomalies over a solar asset
Ballast
A ballast consists of concrete blocks used to secure an array of solar modules to the ground or the roof. A ballast anomaly indicates a broken ballast.
Cell
Hot spot occurring with square geometry in single cell.
Cell low
Cell anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Cell medium
Cell anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Cell high
Cell anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is 20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Cell multi
Hot spots occurring with square geometry in multiple cells.
Cell multi low
Cell multi anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Cell multi medium
Cell multi anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Cell multi high
Cell multi anomaly, where the temperature of an anomalous area is 20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Combiner
A combiner combines many strings into a larger flow of DC (direct current). A combiner anomaly shows fault in contiguous strings matching the inverter layout.
Cracking
Module anomaly caused by cracking on module surface.
Delamination
Module anomaly due to compromised adhesion between glass, encapsulant, active layers, and/or back layers. More common with thin film modules.
Diode
A bypass diode provides a current path around a faulty cell or module. A diode anomaly indicates as activated bypass diode, typically 1/3 of module.
Diode multi
Multiple activated bypass diodes, typically affecting ⅔ of module.
Hot spot
Anomalous spot on a cell.
Hot spot low
Hot spot, where the temperature of the anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Hot spot medium
Hot spot, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Hot spot high
Hot spot, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Hot spot multi
Multiple hot spots on a thin film module.
Hot spot multi low
Hot spot multi, where the temperature of the anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Hot spot multi medium
Hot spot multi, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Hot spot multi high
Hot spot multi, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Internal short circuit
Multiple cell anomalies as a result of a short circuit.
inverter
An inverter converts the DC current of many combiners into usable AC. An inverter anomaly shows fault in contiguous strings matching the inverter layout.
Juction box
A junction box is an enclosure on the module which connects the PV strings. A junction box anomaly is a hot spot at the junction box location on the module.
Juction box low
Junction box anomaly, where the temperature of the anomalous area is less than 10˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Juction box medium
Junction box anomaly, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 10-20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Juction box high
Junction box anomaly, where the temperature of the anomalous area is 20˚C higher than adjacent areas.
Missing
Module is present on as-built but missing from PV system.
Module
Entire module is heated.
Shadowing
Sunlight obstructed by vegetation, man-made structures, or adjacent rows.
Soiling
Dirt, dust, or other debris on surface of module.
Spare module
Module is present on as-built and marked as offline.
String
A string consists of an individual set of modules connected in series. A string anomaly shows fault in contiguous modules matching the string layout.
Tracker
Tilt tracker position affecting power production.
Vegetation
Modules blocked by vegetation.
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Service: Construction Monitoring
This client was looking for field data on the progress of their construction project. Utilizing our turnkey services, we delivered weekly reports through the pre-construction, clearing and earthwork, and mechanical installation stages and they completed the project on time.
Service: PV System Inspection
1 MW PV System
This PV system inspection was performed on a 1 MWDC plant. The inspection took less than 60 minutes to complete, including setup, flights, and packing up. The drone inspection discovered 15.73% of the site’s energy production was affected. A total of 627 anomalies were identified, with 707 modules being impacted. This high number of PV system anomalies was estimated to lead to an annual loss of $8,264
10 MW PV System
This PV system inspection was performed on a 10 MWDC plant. The inspection took half a day to complete, including setup, flights, and packing up. The drone inspection discovered 1.78% of the site’s energy production was affected. A total of 165 anomalies were identified, with 607 modules being impacted. This high number of PV system anomalies was estimated to lead to an annual loss of $14,836.
65 MW PV System
This PV system inspection was performed on a 65 MWDC plant. The inspection took two full days to complete, including setup, flights, and packing up. The drone inspection discovered 1% of the site’s energy production was affected. A total of 418 anomalies were identified, with 2,050 modules being impacted. This high number of PV system anomalies was estimated to lead to an annual loss of $31,828.
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