Clear answer, explained.
Thermographic inspection captures infrared thermal images of solar panels while the system is generating — typically on a clear day with full sun. Faults in individual cells or connections appear as bright hotspots against the cooler background of surrounding panels because defective cells consume power rather than generating it, producing heat instead of electricity. These faults are invisible to the naked eye and do not always appear as string-level output anomalies in standard monitoring data.
Left unaddressed, hotspots reduce module output progressively as cell damage spreads, and in severe cases can cause localised overheating that presents a fire risk, particularly on rooftops where the underside of the panel is in contact with insulation or combustible materials. Early identification through thermographic inspection — before faults progress to fire risk — is the most effective risk mitigation for this failure mode.
Thermographic inspection is typically conducted by drone-mounted infrared camera for commercial rooftop installations, providing full-array coverage in one survey. On systems within the product defect warranty period, identified module faults are reported to the manufacturer for warranty replacement at no cost to the system owner — making early thermographic inspection during the warranty period particularly valuable. The survey is conducted while the system is generating and does not require a shutdown.
What this means in practice.
- Infrared imaging identifies hotspots from cell micro-cracks and delamination
- Faults invisible to the naked eye and may not appear in monitoring data
- Hotspots reduce output and can progress to fire risk if unaddressed
- Drone-mounted infrared camera covers full array in one survey
- System must be generating for accurate thermal imaging
- Module faults within warranty period can be replaced at manufacturer cost
Best-fit environments.
- All commercial solar installations as part of routine O&M every 2–3 years
- Systems where specific strings are underperforming against the rest of the array
- Installations approaching product defect warranty expiry
- Any system where fire risk assessment is part of the facility's risk management
