Aerial inspection with drones and artificial intelligence allows for the detection of anomalies that affect performance, reduces survey times, and enables the planning of corrective actions before the peak solar generation season.
Argentina continues to expand its renewable energy generation capacity, but the performance of a solar park depends not only on its installed capacity. Early detection of anomalies and proper maintenance planning are crucial to preventing generation losses.
Smart inspections to know the real condition of the park
Having accurate information on the status of each component allows interventions to be directed towards the most critical sectors.
Optimum INDRONE is the solution from BLC Industrial Services, a BLC Global group company, for the intelligent inspection of photovoltaic plants using drones, thermography, and artificial intelligence. Based on thermal and RGB images, the platform allows for the identification, geolocation, and classification of anomalies according to their cause, severity, or criticality.
The technology detects faults in cells, diodes, modules, strings, junction boxes, trackers, and inverters, as well as problems related to dirt, vegetation, shading, structural damage, or installation defects. Each finding is geolocated on the park's layout, facilitating the planning and prioritization of maintenance tasks.
Detecting a fault also allows you to quantify its impact
International studies show that generation losses associated with anomalies in photovoltaic parks can range between 2% and 5% of installed capacity
On average, a 3% outage can represent losses exceeding USD 4,300 per MW per year. Therefore, detecting an anomaly early not only allows for correcting a technical fault but also for estimating its economic impact.
In addition to the diagnosis, Optimum INDRONE reports incorporate estimates of energy not generated, economic impact and historical evolution of the inspected assets, providing concrete information to prioritize corrective actions.
From diagnosis to action
The results obtained in various projects demonstrate the value of this approach. In one of the surveyed parks, a comparison between successive inspections revealed a significant increase in bypass diode failures. The traceability of the results supported a warranty claim and allowed for the anticipation of potential system degradation.
Likewise, in a facility located within a protected area, the aerial survey identified sectors affected by vegetation growth that blocked solar radiation, facilitating the planning of interventions and the management of the necessary permits.
Operational safety and fire prevention
In addition to affecting power generation, some anomalies can compromise the integrity of assets. Aerial thermography allows the detection of hotspots that, in extreme cases, can exceed 100 °C.
Early detection is especially important in parks located in arid areas or areas with dry vegetation, where a severe failure could increase the risk of fire. Identifying these critical points allows for preventative action and reduces operational risks.
Less inspection time, more information to decide
Another advantage of aerial surveying is the reduction in operating time. Compared to equivalent manual inspections, the use of drones can significantly decrease fieldwork.
In experiences surveyed by BLC Industrial Services, this reduction exceeded 90%, also decreasing the exposure of personnel to operational tasks and improving safety conditions.
Digitizing the survey allows for comparing successive campaigns, identifying the evolution of certain failures, and building a technical history of the assets.
Planning inspections before periods of higher irradiance allows a shift from reactive maintenance to a strategy based on the actual condition of assets.
For solar park operators, early diagnosis can mean the difference between correcting an anomaly in time and facing permanent degradation, equipment damage, or major operational risks. Detecting issues early allows them to preserve performance, protect their investment, and extend the installation's lifespan.
BLC Global is a community of companies with over 40 years of experience developing technological solutions for the energy sector. Through its units—BLC Power Generation, BLC Oil & Gas, ESG Utilities, BLC Industrial Services, and BLC IT Innovation—it provides services to the power generation, oil and gas, utilities, and industrial markets. With more than 250 clients and 3,000 completed projects, the company has a presence in over 12 countries, where it supports the management and optimization of energy assets.