Utility-Scale Solar PV Field Data & Thermal Inspections
RTK/radiometric thermal and RGB capture for PV O&M — from rapid anomaly screening to IEC TS 62446-3-aligned inspection packages when required environmental logs and capture conditions are documented.
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
Same-day mobilization when optimal weather windows open. No multi-day travel logistics or hotel costs passed to clients. 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
- ✓ Cell-level thermal anomalies (hotspots, bypass-diode patterns, string outages, delamination indicators)
- ✓ Detection of thermal evidence indicating likely defect causes
- ✓ Module-level georeferenced location (subject to site layout and registration QA)
- ✓ Documentation suitable to support warranty, O&M, or insurer review when paired with required site records
Our thermal scans show you WHY and exactly WHERE to fix it
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.
Real-World Example:
Your SCADA system alerts: "String 47 down 3.2% from baseline."
Our thermal scan reports: "Panel #2,847 (GPS: 34.5234°N, 101.7123°W) shows C2 thermal anomaly ΔT=28°C, pattern consistent with bypass-diode or cell-level fault. Suggested follow-up: field verification / IV-curve / EL as appropriate. Illustrative loss estimate: $30–80/day depending on string topology and operating conditions."
That's the difference between knowing you have a problem and knowing exactly how to solve it efficiently.
Industry Best Practices
IEC TS 62446-3 and NREL recommend thermal inspections as standard O&M practice alongside electrical monitoring—not instead of it.
Many O&M contracts and insurance policies require periodic thermal documentation for warranty claims and performance guarantees.
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 aligned with IEC TS 62446-3 protocols for quarterly O&M programs. Our 640×512 radiometric thermal imaging detects hotspots, bypass diode failures, and delamination invisible to SCADA monitoring—with georeferenced data suitable for asset management systems and warranty claims.
Technical Specifications & Capabilities
What our equipment and methodology deliver for your solar O&M program
640×512 Resolution: What It Means for Your Array
At our standard flight altitude, our 640×512 radiometric camera achieves 3cm ground sample distance (GSD), delivering ≥ 5×5 pixels per solar cell—exceeding IEC TS 62446-3 detailed inspection mode requirements (5×5 minimum) and far surpassing simplified mode minimums (3×3).
What This Means:
- ✓ Cell-level thermal anomaly screening - not just "general hotspot zones"
- ✓ Individual module identification - pinpoint which panel has the issue
- ✓ Bypass diode anomaly detection - see characteristic thermal patterns consistent with diode issues
- ✓ Thermal signatures from severely cracked or failing cells — definitive microcrack diagnosis requires electroluminescence (EL) imaging
Our resolution exceeds IEC TS 62446-3 minimum requirements (3×3 px/cell simplified mode) to ensure actionable defect identification.
RTK GPS: Module-Level Coordinates, Not Just Flight Tracking
Our 2cm RTK GPS accuracy applies to thermal anomaly geotagging—meaning every hotspot is tagged with survey-grade coordinates that map directly to specific panel locations.
Deliverable Example:
You get actionable repair instructions, not just "here are some hot areas" — crew can navigate directly to the defective 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 coordinate with local electricians and O&M contractors for turnkey repair follow-through.
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 Schedule
Annual factory calibration + quarterly verification with reference targets
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
IEC TS 62446-3-aligned field methodology, founder-led by a software/systems engineer, with West Texas thermal inspection experience across wind, roofing, and solar workflow validation. Standards-compliant data, on-site processing, founder-led by a software and systems engineer applying 40 years of engineering discipline to field thermal data acquisition.
Sample Inspection Available
Pilot inspection on a representative section of your array. Typical 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 complete 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-completeness + 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
- • IEC sensor-data availability for compliance 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
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), undetected hotspots and defects can cause 2-5% annual yield losses in regions with high dust and soiling rates like the Texas Panhandle. For a typical 500 MW utility-scale site at $30/MWh, this represents $700k-$1.8M in lost annual revenue.
Our preventive thermal scans help detect these issues per IEC 62446-3 standards before they cascade into major failures. 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.
Regional Soiling Rates
Typical Panhandle sites experience 3-5% soiling losses, higher during harvest season and drought conditions
Agrivoltaic Considerations
Dual-use solar/agricultural sites require monitoring for shading impacts and environmental compatibility
High Wind Adaptation
Our flight protocols are optimized for West Texas wind conditions while maintaining IEC compliance
Source: NREL - "Best Practices for Operation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems" (3rd Edition)
Technical Capabilities
Anomaly Detection (IEC TS 62446-3-aligned)
- Hotspot Detection: ΔT >20°C threshold per IEC TS 62446-3 protocol, flags cell-level thermal anomalies
- Bypass Diode Anomalies: Characteristic thermal signatures consistent with shorted or open diodes
- String-Level Outages: Detect entire string failures invisible to SCADA
- Delamination: Identify panel degradation from moisture intrusion
- Soiling Analysis: Quantify non-uniform cleaning or shading losses
Data Precision & Georeferencing
- Radiometric Integrity: Custom thermal analysis pipeline preserving temperature data through processing
- RTK GPS: 2cm positioning accuracy for panel-level defect location
- Resolution: 3cm/pixel ground sample distance at typical flight altitude
- RGB Alignment: Co-registered thermal/RGB outputs, with alignment QA documented per project
- Flight Conditions: POA ≥650 W/m², wind ≤11 mph (5 m/s), tracker tilt <30°, ±2 hours of solar noon — strict IEC TS 62446-3 / partner-analytics gates
Enterprise Deliverables
Designed for quarterly O&M programs and asset management integration
Georeferenced Thermal Orthomosaic (GeoTIFF)
Full-site thermal map (3cm/pixel) with preserved radiometric data, compatible with QGIS/ArcGIS
Hotspot CSV Export
Panel_ID, GPS_coordinates, Temp_delta, Confidence_score, Fault_type—ready for your asset management system
IEC TS 62446-3 Compliance Report (PDF)
Executive summary, anomaly count/severity, thermal imagery, flight metadata, compliance 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
IEC TS 62446-3 Standards-Based Inspections
We follow IEC TS 62446-3 protocols for data collection. Deliverables are customized based on your project scope and budget.
Our Methodology: All thermal data is collected using IEC TS 62446-3 standards: ≥600 W/m² irradiance, perpendicular viewing angles, ≥5×5 pixels per cell resolution, and RTK georeferencing. 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
Typical 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
Typical 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
Typical Delivery
- Everything in Professional
- 30-50 page compliance package
- Full IEC TS 62446-3 methodology docs
- 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 anomalies with ΔT normalized to 1000 W/m² (IEC-aligned)
- 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) for strict IEC/partner analytics; ≤ 60° from perpendicular
- ≥ 5×5 px/cell detailed (≥ 3×3 simplified)
- < 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: ≤ 6 cm/px standard thermography; ≤ 3 cm/px for IEC-grade detailed inspection
- RGB GSD: < 4 cm/px (thermography); < 1.4 cm/px for quantitative soiling
- 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
Utility-scale solar farms can lose 1-3% of annual production to defects invisible to SCADA monitoring in systems where SCADA misses cell-level issues—hotspots, bypass diode anomalies, string outages, and soiling. For a 100 MW facility at $30/MWh, that's $71k-$213k/year in lost revenue.
Our IEC TS 62446-3-aligned thermal inspections help identify these issues before they cascade into catastrophic failures. With RTK-georeferenced data and rapid report delivery (typically 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 targets < 1.4 cm/px ground sampling.
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 based on industry averages and regional defaults (e.g., Panhandle soiling rates of 3-5%). Actual results depend on site-specific conditions, 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: Co-registered with thermal for defect verification
- 2cm RTK GPS: Every pixel tagged with survey-grade coordinates
- Irradiance Monitoring: Ground-based pyranometer ensures 600+ W/m² during flight
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
- IEC TS 62446-3 Protocol: Standardized methodology supports warranty/O&M documentation packages
- GeoTIFF Deliverables: Import directly into QGIS/ArcGIS or asset management systems
Aerial Accuracy primarily serves commercial, utility, and infrastructure inspection needs. Residential solar diagnostics are 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 an IEC TS 62446-3-aligned report with professional analysis, and include a general ROI estimate based on your site details—no commitment required.
Serving the Texas Panhandle and South Plains • Engineering-grade data • IEC TS 62446-3-aligned