Utility-Scale Solar PV Field Data & Thermal Inspections
RTK/radiometric thermal and RGB capture for PV O&M — from rapid anomaly screening to commissioned inspection packages with documented environmental logs and capture conditions.
Our Capabilities & Credentials
±3°C
Temperature Accuracy
Level 1
sUAS Thermography Certified
IEC TS 62446-3
Standards-Based Data Collection
Field QA + Analysis-Ready Handoff
We stage, verify, and organize large RGB/radiometric datasets locally before delivery. Outputs can route through our own reporting workflow or into an approved analytics platform for advanced thermography and soiling analysis.
Analytics-Backend-Ready Exports
Raw radiometric, RGB, flight-log, environmental-log, and geospatial exports structured for partner analytics, SCADA, CMMS, or internal O&M review. The goal is clean handoff, not black-box imagery.
Local Advantage
Based in the heart of Panhandle and South Plains solar development
Next-day mobilization may be available after site access, airspace, a suitable weather window, and operator availability are confirmed. We know West Texas irradiance patterns, wind conditions, and seasonal inspection timing—serving installations throughout the region.
Beyond Remote Monitoring: Why Thermal Inspections Are Essential
Modern solar farms use both—because electrical data and thermal imaging solve different problems
What Remote Monitoring Does
- ✓ Real-time electrical performance (voltage, current, power output)
- ✓ Alerts when production drops below expected levels
- ✓ String-level and inverter-level data aggregation
- ✓ Historical trend analysis and performance ratios
Your monitoring tells you THAT there's a problem
What Thermal Inspections Reveal
- ✓ Thermal signatures across the array (hotspots, bypass-diode patterns, string outages, delamination indicators)
- ✓ Thermal signatures that indicate investigation targets, not root-cause diagnoses
- ✓ Georeferenced thermal and visual layers you can open in your own GIS — we do not issue per-module diagnoses
- ✓ Documentation suitable to support warranty, O&M, or insurer review when paired with required site records
Thermal signatures remain investigation targets for qualified ground verification
The Gap Remote Monitoring Can't Fill
Electrical monitoring systems rely on sensors that can be inaccurate, experience outages, or fail to pinpoint root causes. They report symptoms (reduced output) but not the physical defects causing them—like bypass diode anomalies, PID degradation, or soiling patterns that thermal imaging reveals instantly.
Illustrative Workflow Example:
Your SCADA system alerts: "String 47 down 3.2% from baseline."
A commissioned thermal scan could report: "Georeferenced thermal signature with an apparent temperature difference. Investigation target: compare with the visual layer and schedule qualified field verification. Imagery alone does not establish root cause or an exact module."
That adds spatial context for deciding where qualified ground investigation should focus.
Industry Best Practices
IEC TS 62446-3 and NREL recommend thermal inspections as standard O&M practice alongside electrical monitoring—not instead of it.
Thermal documentation can support O&M, warranty, or insurer evaluation; acceptance depends on the applicable contract, manufacturer, carrier, and claim.
Growing Market Demand
West Texas solar is scaling fast: EIA projects ERCOT solar generation will surpass coal for the first time in 2026 (~78 vs. ~60 billion kWh).
Unresolved equipment issues cost the industry up to $5,720/MWdc/year in lost production—creating massive demand for diagnostic services like thermal inspections. Source: EIA STEO, via Reuters (2026).
The Bottom Line
Remote monitoring and thermal inspections aren't competitors—they're partners. Monitoring gives you real-time electrical data. Thermal imaging gives you actionable intelligence for targeted repairs. Together, they maximize uptime, extend asset life, and protect your ROI.
As the Texas Panhandle and South Plains continue expanding as a major hub for utility-scale solar across the ERCOT, SPP, and Texas–New Mexico utility corridors, we're positioned to deliver thermal inspections using documented capture and reporting procedures for quarterly O&M programs. Our radiometric thermal imaging flags nonuniform surface-temperature signatures for qualified ground follow-up; imagery alone does not establish hotspot root cause, bypass-diode failure, delamination, or an exact module.
Technical Specifications & Capabilities
What our equipment and methodology deliver for your solar O&M program
640×512 Resolution: What It Means for Your Array
Georeferenced visual and radiometric thermal layers. The visual layer is planned at approximately 3 cm/px; thermal is a separate, coarser layer whose resolution depends on flight altitude. Pixel density is evaluated against the applicable IEC TS 62446-3 framework and the flight's measured evidence.
What This Means:
- ✓ Thermal anomaly screening across the array - investigation targets, not root-cause diagnoses
- ✓ Layers you can open in your own GIS - we do not issue per-module diagnoses
- ✓ Bypass-diode signature screening - flag characteristic thermal patterns for electrical confirmation
- ✓ Severe nonuniform thermal signatures — definitive microcrack diagnosis requires electroluminescence (EL) imaging
Not all defects produce detectable temperature differentials. A commissioned deliverable states which resolution records, coverage gaps, and rejected-frame notes are included.
RTK-Positioned Capture and Georeferenced Layers
RTK specifications describe camera-position capability, not guaranteed defect coordinates. Deliverables can include georeferenced visual and radiometric thermal layers clients can open in their own GIS; we do not issue per-module diagnoses.
Layer Boundary:
For the solar workflow, the visual layer is approximately 3 cm/px. The radiometric thermal layer is separate and coarser; its resolution depends on flight altitude and capture geometry.
Use thermal signatures to plan ground verification; imagery does not assign root cause or an exact module.
Project Scope & Scalability
Scalable from commercial to utility-scale: We scale our field operation from single-site 5MW arrays through multi-site 500MW+ portfolios with equal precision.
Minimum project size: Contact us for project assessment—we tailor inspection scope and pricing to your site's specific needs and budget.
Follow-Up Support & Repair Coordination
Our reports include defect prioritization by estimated $/day loss to help you schedule repairs efficiently. We can help coordinate repair follow-up with your electricians and O&M contractors.
Thermal Accuracy, Calibration & Repeatability
Camera Accuracy
±3°C across −20°C to +60°C ambient range (manufacturer spec)
Processing Pipeline
Radiometric integrity preserved end-to-end—from capture through stitching to delivery, no lossy compression
Calibration Basis
Manufacturer radiometric calibration; thermal resolution depends on flight altitude, lens choice, and capture geometry.
IEC TS 62446-3 Hotspot Thresholds (normalized to 1000 W/m²):
Year-over-year repeatability: Our standardized methodology enables quarterly trend analysis to track degradation progression.
Certification & Expertise
Documented field methods, radiometric data, GPS-referenced investigation targets, and prospective deliverables, with on-site processing and controlled method development for other service lines — founder-led by a software and systems engineer applying 40 years of engineering discipline to field thermal data acquisition. The project scope states the capture conditions and reporting limits.
Sample Inspection Available
Pilot inspection on a representative section of your array. Target report delivery within one week, including defect analysis—no long-term commitment.
See exactly what we deliver:
Format examples with illustrative data - not a client site.
Partner-Ready Field Data for Advanced PV Analytics
Utility-scale PV analytics are only as good as the data captured in the field. Aerial Accuracy focuses on the Texas field layer: repeatable RTK flight execution, radiometric thermal/RGB capture, timestamped POA-irradiance / wind / ambient-temperature logging, site coordination, and documented data handoff.
For projects requiring advanced soiling quantification, automated thermal classification, or portfolio analytics, our workflow is built to feed approved analytics partners and client platforms.
Capture & QA discipline
- • Raw, un-zipped radiometric + RGB (no lossy re-encode)
- • Timestamped POA-irradiance, wind, ambient-temperature logs
- • On-site SD/SSD backup before leaving the field
- • Coverage inventory, disclosed gaps + file-integrity check pre-handoff
- • Written handoff manifest (flight params, gaps, conditions)
Site-intake we collect up front
- • Nameplate MWp, COD, module datasheet & dimensions
- • KML/KMZ plant outline, obstacles, airspace constraints
- • Fixed-tilt vs. tracker, table inclination, modules/string
- • Reference-module locations (for soiling), clean-module strategy
- • sensor-data availability for the commissioned analysis scope
Deliverables: raw radiometric + RGB imagery, flight & environmental logs, georeferenced anomaly tables, and the documentation expected by IEC TS 62446-3 reporting workflows when required environmental conditions and capture parameters are met. The goal is a clean, analysis-ready handoff — not black-box imagery.
Industry Insights: Why Thermal Inspections Matter
NREL reports that soiling alone can cause up to 7% annual energy loss in parts of the United States. This is not a combined estimate for soiling and defects. Actual loss at a West Texas site should be measured with site performance and soiling data.
Our preventive thermal scans flag nonuniform surface-temperature signatures for qualified follow-up before suspected issues progress. West Texas conditions—including high winds (averaging 12-15 mph), intense solar radiation, and dust from agricultural operations—make regular thermal monitoring especially critical for maintaining optimal performance.
Site-Specific Soiling Monitoring
Soiling varies with site conditions, weather, module configuration, rainfall, and cleaning intervals. Use site performance and soiling data to plan cleaning.
Agrivoltaic Considerations
Dual-use solar/agricultural sites require monitoring for shading impacts and environmental compatibility
High Wind Adaptation
Our flight protocols use documented project wind and capture gates for West Texas conditions.
Source: NREL, "Scientists Studying Solar Try Solving a Dusty Problem"
Technical Capabilities
Anomaly Screening
- Hotspot Detection: project-defined ΔT screening criteria used to flag thermal signatures for ground investigation
- Bypass Diode Anomalies: Characteristic thermal signatures consistent with shorted or open diodes
- String-Level Outages: Detect entire string failures invisible to SCADA
- Delamination: Flag thermal patterns consistent with delamination/moisture intrusion for ground verification
- Soiling Analysis: Quantify non-uniform cleaning or shading losses
Data Precision & Georeferencing
- Radiometric Integrity: Custom thermal analysis pipeline preserving temperature data through processing
- RTK-equipped aircraft: camera-position support for georeferenced visual and radiometric thermal layers
- Layer Resolution: visual approximately 3 cm/px; thermal is separate and coarser, with resolution dependent on altitude and capture geometry
- Visual and Thermal Layers: provided separately; no certified thermal-to-visual registration claim
- Flight Conditions: POA ≥650 W/m², wind ≤11 mph (5 m/s), tracker tilt <30°, ±2 hours of solar noon — project data-quality targets for the commissioned analytics workflow
Enterprise Deliverables
Designed for quarterly O&M programs and asset management integration
Georeferenced Thermal Orthomosaic (GeoTIFF)
Georeferenced thermal map with documented processing, disclosed gaps, and achieved GSD, compatible with QGIS/ArcGIS
Georeferenced Layer Package
Visual layer, radiometric thermal layer, scoped field context, and investigation targets for ground verification
Documented Methods Report (PDF)
executive summary, anomaly count and severity, thermal imagery, flight metadata, conditions, quality limits, and scope statement
Trend Analysis (Multi-Quarter)
Track degradation over time: "Q1 vs Q2 vs Q3 anomaly counts," predictive maintenance scheduling
Accelerated Processing
We process on our own hardware—no waiting in third-party vendor queues
Documented Solar Thermal Inspection Methods
We use capture and reporting procedures defined for the commissioned project. Deliverables are customized based on your project scope and budget.
Our Methodology: Thermal capture uses the documented project method for solar screening; capture parameters and deliverables are defined by the commissioned scope. What varies is the deliverable format and documentation depth—you choose what fits your needs.
Three Service Tiers
Essential
Quick O&M Inspections
5-7 Days
Target Delivery
- GeoTIFF thermal imagery
- CSV hotspot coordinates
- Priority classification (C0-C3)
Best for: Small O&M contractors, quick quarterly scans
Professional
Standard O&M Reports
10-14 Days
Target Delivery
- Everything in Essential
- 15-page professional PDF report
- Defect classification & analysis
- Estimated energy loss calculations
Best for: Mid-size facilities, quarterly O&M programs
Enterprise
Full IEC Documentation
14-21 Days
Target Delivery
- Everything in Professional
- 30-50 page documented methods package
- project methodology documentation
- Warranty/O&M support documentation package
Best for: Utility-scale, warranty claims, investor reporting
Technical Specifications
What's Included in All Tiers
- Executive summary; thermal + RGB orthomosaics (quantitative no-blend)
- CSV/KML investigation targets with documented ΔT normalization inputs and limits
- Detailed findings table; prioritized actions; raw imagery & logs
Classes (ΔT @ 1000 W/m²)
C0
3–<10 °C
C1
10–<20 °C
C2
20–<40 °C
C3
≥ 40 °C
Environmental & Quality Gates
- POA ≥ 600 W/m²; stability < 10%/min
- Wind ≤11 mph (5 m/s) as the data-quality target for the listed partner-analytics workflow; ≤60° from perpendicular
- Thermal sampling target documented from altitude, lens, and capture geometry; no individual-cell or per-module diagnosis.
- < 10% cloud cover; no cloud shadows (re-fly window if needed); plant near nominal power, no clipping in the overflown area
- Trackers: flights within ±2 h of solar noon, module tilt < 30°
Flight Geometry & Coverage
- IR GSD planning targets: approximately 6 cm/px for standard thermography and approximately 3 cm/px for detailed solar screening; actual thermal resolution remains altitude- and capture-geometry-dependent
- RGB visual-layer GSD planning targets: approximately 4 cm/px for thermal context and approximately 1.4 cm/px for soiling workflows; thermal resolution is separate and coarser
- Overlap: ≥ 70% side, ≥ 86% front; straight passes perpendicular to module rows
- Layout: ~10 m margin around the field; evaluations chunked to ≤ 100 ha. Combined thermal + soiling flights satisfy both cameras' constraints (IR is usually the limiter).
Acquisition parameters aligned to utility-scale PV analytics requirements so the data drops cleanly into partner or in-house processing.
Data Integration
- Orthomosaics: UTM14N (EPSG:32614)
- CSV/KML: WGS84 lat/lon (EPSG:4326); local & UTC timestamps; RTK FIX%
- Alternates: GeoJSON / ESRI FileGDB
Scalability & Portfolio Management
Built for multi-site O&M programs and quarterly inspection schedules:
Utility-Scale Capable
Field workflow built for large utility-scale sites — ready for multi-site portfolios and quarterly inspection programs.
Quarterly Inspection Cadence
Scheduled Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4 inspections with consistent methodology and historical comparison.
Flexible Data Exports
GeoJSON, KML, CSV, and GeoTIFF exports that integrate directly with client or partner SCADA, asset-management, and analysis systems.
Panhandle & South Plains Coverage
Serving the Texas Panhandle and South Plains region—no travel fees within 40 miles—ready for West Texas / ERCOT / SPP-region solar growth.
Why Solar Thermal Inspection Matters
SCADA monitoring can show system- or string-level performance changes but does not provide the spatial thermal context needed to review hotspots, bypass-diode patterns, string outages, or nonuniform soiling.
Our documented solar thermal inspection method flags signatures as investigation targets for qualified ground follow-up. With RTK-georeferenced data and a target report delivery within one week (weather permitting), you get actionable intelligence to prioritize repairs and maximize ROI.
Early Detection
Catch defects before warranty expires and before minor issues become major losses
Repair Prioritization
GPS-tagged defects ranked by $/day loss—focus maintenance budget on highest-impact repairs
Portfolio Benchmarking
Quarterly data tracks degradation trends across multi-site portfolios for predictive maintenance
Thermography + Soiling: Same Flight, Better Context
Thermal imagery shows where modules are running abnormally hot. RGB-based soiling analytics can help explain whether some thermal patterns are caused by dirt, dust, bird droppings, or cleaning non-uniformity rather than electrical failure.
For utility-scale sites, Aerial Accuracy captures the field data required for combined thermal and soiling analysis — reference-module coordinates, tracker strategy, POA irradiance, wind, ambient temperature, and upload-ready imagery. This is exactly the input expected by purpose-built soiling-analytics platforms.
Reference-module coordination (for quantitative soiling)
Visual soiling analysis is anchored to clean reference modules. We coordinate that on the ground: selecting a clean reference module for each module type and mounting configuration, logging its lat/lon, cleaning 2–4 adjacent modules beside it, and — for trackers — capturing at the most horizontal inclination so the reference set is comparable across the array. RGB soiling capture uses an approximately 1.4 cm/px visual-layer planning target; thermal resolution is separate and coarser.
Run the dedicated solar inspection ROI calculator or model long-term output with the solar panel degradation calculator.
Transparent Pricing
Competitive, customized per-MW pricing tailored to your site—contact us for a tailored quote based on your site. No added fees for local South Plains and Panhandle clients. Pricing varies based on site size, complexity, and inspection frequency.
Typical 500 MW Site
Custom quotes based on site layout and accessibility—contact us for detailed estimates
Multi-Site Portfolios
Volume pricing available for quarterly inspection programs across multiple facilities
Disclaimer: Estimates are illustrative. Actual results depend on site-specific production, soiling, and electrical data, equipment age, and environmental factors.
How We Collect This Data
Our Equipment
- 640×512 Radiometric Thermal: ±3°C accuracy across −20°C to +60°C ambient range
- 50MP RGB Camera: separate georeferenced visual layer, approximately 3 cm/px for the solar workflow
- RTK-equipped aircraft: Camera-position capability supporting georeferenced visual and radiometric thermal layers; no per-module diagnoses
- Irradiance Monitoring: Irradiance verified via site sensor data or reference irradiance sources, logged with the flight record.
Our Advantages
- Fast Turnaround: We process on our own hardware—no third-party vendor queues, no lossy handoffs
- West Texas Based: Zero travel fees, rapid mobilization when weather windows open
- Documented Protocol: Project-defined capture and reporting methods support warranty/O&M documentation packages, subject to reviewer requirements
- GeoTIFF Deliverables: Import directly into QGIS/ArcGIS or asset management systems
Aerial Accuracy primarily serves commercial, utility, and infrastructure inspection needs. Residential solar screening is available case-by-case —homeowner thermal inspection service
Request a Pilot Section Scan
We'll conduct a sample thermal scan on a utility-scale section, provide a report with documented capture conditions, analysis limits, and professional review, and include a general ROI estimate based on your site details—no commitment required.
Serving the Texas Panhandle and South Plains • Documented capture conditions • Commissioned reporting scope