Thermographic Inspection
Thermographic inspection helps solar asset owners detect hotspots, string faults, and module defects early, so they can reduce downtime, protect yield, and plan maintenance more effectively. Above is a market-leading thermographic inspection provider for utility-scale solar, combining precise aerial thermal data, proven solar expertise, and clear digital reporting to help teams make faster, more informed decisions across construction and operations.
Understand the health of your solar asset.
Regular thermographic inspections with Above allow you to build a reliable performance dataset, enabling detailed analysis and comparison across your solar portfolio over the module's lifetime.
We can offer IEC standards and best practice guidelines, ensuring consistent, high-quality data collection across all your solar sites worldwide.
Hidden Defects Become Lost Revenue
Most utility-scale solar plants carry thermal defects that reduce yield, create warranty risk and remain invisible until performance is already affected.
For plant operators and asset owners, the challenge is not whether defects exist, it is whether they are found early enough, consistently enough, and in sufficient detail to enable action.
Benefits of Above's Thermographic Inspection
Establish a Comprehensive Baseline
Regular thermographic inspections with Above allow you to build a reliable performance baseline, enabling detailed analysis and comparison across your solar portfolio over the asset’s lifetime.
Global Standardisation
Our aerial imagery adheres to IEC standards and best practice guidelines, ensuring consistent, high-quality data collection across all your solar sites worldwide
Support for Warranty Claims
Create a robust digital thread of historical data to track module failure rates over time. Access to high-quality, standardised data enhances the likelihood of successful warranty and insurance claims.
Advanced Power Loss Modelling
Developed in collaboration with the academic experts at Loughborough University C.R.E.S.T, our industry-leading power loss model evaluates the impact of thermal anomalies in the context of your electrical system design, providing precise insights into performance losses.
Targeted Maintenance Planning
Streamline your operations by quickly identifying specific issues and using the Task List feature to efficiently direct resources to where they are needed most.
Mapped and Integrated Data
Inspection data is electrically and spatially mapped to precise module locations within SolarGain, Above’s powerful cloud-based platform.
Module in Short Circuit
Offline strings
Smarter Detection, Better Insight
Substring in Short Circuit
Potential Induced Degradation (PID)
Spot more thermal and visual anomalies with our advanced AI analysis, giving every issue the attention it deserves.
Substring in Open Circuit
Hot Cells
Bifacial rear-side mismatch loss
Hot Cell (thin Film)
Inverter Level Anomaly
Litchen
Download the Thermographic Inspection Checklist today.
Sneak peak at our software, SolarGain
See how our SolarGain simplifies thermographic inspection data with precise component locations, AI-powered analysis, and a unified view of your plant, all in one place.
If you’d like to learn more about our software, SolarGain, and how it can support you, request a demo below and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Why use Thermographic Inspections?
Whether you are commissioning or buying a new plant, performing general health checks or making a warranty or insurance claim, our solution ensures you understand the detailed health and performance of your solar plant.
With global coverage and the option for clients to self-fly their data collection, our approach is both scalable and adaptable to your needs. Above’s aerial inspections are also supported by our suite of mobile apps, giving you instant access to geolocated data, performance analytics, and actionable task lists and reports on site and in physical and electrical context.
Thermal Imagery Results, Anytime. Anywhere.
Thermography inspections are now easy to access on our SolarGain Mobile App, giving customers a simple way to view thermal imaging results anytime, anywhere.
By helping identify panel performance issues, hotspots, and potential energy losses, these inspections support better solar system efficiency and long-term reliability. With the SolarGain Mobile App, all your key solar insights are available in one convenient place, making system monitoring more transparent and user-friendly.
FAQs
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A thermographic inspection is a type of infrared thermal imaging assessment that uses specialised cameras to detect heat patterns and temperature differences across the surface of objects. In the solar industry, this technique identifies thermal anomalies in photovoltaic modules or solar plant infrastructure without physical contact.
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Above uses drone-based infrared cameras to capture high-resolution thermal imagery across solar assets. These thermograms reveal hotspots or performance issues, which are then analysed through Above’s SolarGain platform giving operators precise, geolocated performance data and actionable insights.
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Thermographic inspections help solar asset owners:
Detect electrical and thermal anomalies early
Improve preventative maintenance and reduce downtime
Support commissioning and warranty claims
Build a long-term performance baseline
Improve yield forecasting and operational decisions
These benefits stem from revealing issues invisible to the naked eye and traditional inspections.
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Thermal imaging can uncover issues such as hotspots, string imbalances, junction box overheating, shading losses, and other electrical or thermal irregularities that could impact plant performance or component lifespan.
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Yes. Thermographic inspection is a non-destructive, non-contact testing (NDT) method that doesn’t require de-energising equipment or physically touching components, making it safe and efficient for large-scale solar operations.
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Yes. Above provides global thermographic inspection services, giving solar O&M teams, EPCs, and asset owners consistent, high-quality thermal data across international sites.
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After the inspection, clients receive detailed thermal reports with:
Thermographic imagery and heat maps
Identified anomalies and their locations
Performance analytics
Contextual insights for maintenance or claims purposes
These results are integrated into the SolarGain platform for easy access and decision-making.
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Generally, a site representative is not required onsite during the drone thermographic mission; however, it’s important to provide access details, safety instructions, and any site access information needed for the flight.
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The recommended frequency varies by asset age, operations schedule, and performance goals. Traditionally, annual or bi-annual inspections align with maintenance windows, though many operators choose more frequent monitoring to track performance trends over time.
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Yes. High-quality, IEC-standard compliant thermographic data enhances the likelihood of successful warranty and insurance claims by providing standardized, robust evidence of module faults or degradation.
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Before inspection, sites should ensure cleanliness (e.g., panel washing) and clear access for drone operation. Above may coordinate with clients on scheduling, weather conditions, and site access protocols to ensure optimal data capture.
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Thermal images (thermograms) convert infrared signals into colour-coded temperature maps. These visuals help technician’s pinpoint anomalies, understand their severity, and plan corrective action, all accessible via SolarGain’s dashboards and reporting tools.
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Stakeholders that benefit include:
O&M teams looking to improve uptime and efficiency
EPCs verifying construction quality
Asset owners tracking long-term performance
Warranty administrators and claims specialists
These groups use thermographic insights to make data-driven decisions.
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