Abstract
In this paper, the authors propose an UAV-based automatic inspection method for photovoltaic plants analyzing and testing a vision-based guidance method developed to this purpose. The maintenance of PV plants represents a key aspect for the profitability in energy production and autonomous inspection of such systems is a promising technology especially for large utility-scale plants where manned techniques have significant limitations in terms of time, cost and performance. In this light, an ad hoc flight control solution is investigated to exploit available UAV sensor data to enhance flight monitoring capability and correct GNSS position errors with respect to final target needs. The proposed algorithm has been tested in a simulated environment with a software-in-the loop (SITL) approach to show its effectiveness and final comparison with state of the art solutions.
Highlights
In the last few years, the PV sector has witnessed a very rapid increase in its production rate with the complicity of economic incentives offered by many countries and a general market attention toward renewable energy sources.Maintenance represents nowadays a key aspect for PV plants profitability: many studies have shown that a very large number of PV modules present damages
Some studies have been calculated that the impact of defects on PV modules can increase the levelized cost of energy of around 5% [3]
One of the first tests that has been introduced for detecting the defects is the visual inspection: it can detect several defects, from delamination, to cell corrosion, from glass breakage, to the snail trails phenomenon [4]
Summary
Maintenance represents nowadays a key aspect for PV plants profitability: many studies have shown that a very large number of PV modules present damages. In [1], it has been shown that in some critical plants the impact of failures can even reach the 80% of the total installed modules. Among all the possible failures of PV modules, the superficial ones are the most common [2]. Some studies have been calculated that the impact of defects on PV modules can increase the levelized cost of energy of around 5% [3]. One of the first tests that has been introduced for detecting the defects is the visual inspection: it can detect several defects, from delamination, to cell corrosion, from glass breakage, to the snail trails phenomenon [4]. The visual inspection performed by an expert is very effective in detecting defects
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