Optimizers provide the advantage of continuous module power generation monitoring during PV plant operation, ensuring optimal performance. In May 2020, SolarEdge published a technical white paper, Power Optimizers Match Infrared (IR) Imaging Capabilities at Finding Module Defects, comparing the effectiveness of aerial inspections and optimizer-based monitoring for solar modules. The study found that both methods reliably identify abnormal modules, highlighting their complementary role in PV system diagnostics.

An aerial inspection was conducted on a 25KW rooftop PV plant that has been operational for approximately six years and is equipped with the SolarEdge optimizer. Several abnormal modules were detected. The optimizer app indicated that some modules were generating only two-thirds of the power compared to normal modules. Aerial inspection results identified a fault in one of these modules classified as “one open circuit in a sub-series within the module,” suggesting abnormal diode conduction. Additionally, two other modules showed no power generation in the optimizer app. Aerial inspection results further revealed distinct faults, one module exhibited an open circuit, while the other displayed a short circuit.

This case demonstrates that both optimizers and aerial inspections provide consistent results in monitoring PV modules while highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. Optimizers excel in continuous monitoring, immediate anomaly detection, and tracking power generation losses. However, they require additional installation and maintenance costs and cannot directly identify physical failure modes. In contrast, aerial inspections offer a cost-effective solution that avoids optimizer-related failures while providing direct identification of physical defects. However, they come with certain challenges, including execution complexity, reliance on scheduled inspections to detect anomalies, and the need for professional expertise in fault diagnosis. Additionally, determining the exact time of failure remains difficult.

In recent years, the number of medium- and large-scale solar PV systems (MW) has steadily increased. For module monitoring in these environments, thermal imaging aerial inspections offer a significant cost advantage, making them the preferred choice. However, such systems have higher operational demands for thermal imaging inspections. Relying solely on drone equipment without AI-powered thermal defect analysis and visualization tools can be challenging and prone to errors. The IRUAV APP within IRUAV PLATFORM functions similarly to the SolarEdge APP, ensuring that cost-effective thermal imaging aerial inspections also deliver high-quality results.