A drone inspection of a solar power plant combines an overview of the whole plant, thermal data and visual evidence at the level of a module or part of a string. Images can be processed with AI-supported analysis so the maintenance team can more easily find, sort and check suspicious points. We organise missions for Zagreb, Zagreb County and plants across Croatia. The result is not a substitute for an electrical diagnosis, but a structured basis for targeted field checks and maintenance planning.
EnergizeDrone, a brand of Energize Intelligent Solutions d.o.o. from Zagreb, provides drone surveys of solar power plants and AI-supported organisation of findings for projects in Croatia. Paired RGB and thermal shots, panel positions and inspection priorities are combined into an overview for maintenance, while the final electrical diagnosis is confirmed by an appropriate specialist.
A valuable result is not just a thermal image. EnergizeDrone organises each finding by panel or zone and links it with a visual shot so the technical team can check the actual condition at the exact location.
Thermal inspection methodologySoftware can speed up the detection and structuring of anomalies, but the cause depends on operating conditions, reflections, load and the electrical state of the system. That is why a finding serves targeted expert verification, not an automatic final diagnosis.
The EnergizeDrone team includes a specialist holding the ITC Level I Infrared Thermography certificate. We use knowledge of measurement accuracy, emissivity, reflections, heat transfer and thermal image analysis when planning missions and checking findings. Thermograms and AI classification still serve as the basis for targeted electrical checks, not as an automatic final diagnosis.
Check the content of the official ITC programmeA conventional walk-through remains important, but aerial surveys can organise the inspection of a large number of modules more quickly and show where a technician’s attention is best directed. The greatest value comes from a consistent procedure that can be repeated and compared.
01 Application
A systematic flight path covers the agreed strings and records both thermal and visual views. The goal is to avoid random photos and obtain an overview that can be linked with the plant layout. Before the mission, field labels, available drawings and the way maintenance identifies modules on site are aligned.
02 Application
Modules or parts of modules with an unusual temperature pattern are marked for further checks. The analysis takes into account reflection, shadow, camera angle, surroundings and operating state. A warmer zone is not in itself proof of a specific fault, which is why a comparison RGB shot and the string context are kept with each finding.
03 Application
Software can help detect modules, link images to the map and group observed patterns. This reduces the manual search through a large number of shots. Each automatically isolated finding still needs to be reviewed in its real context and, where necessary, confirmed by a measurement or inspection by the responsible technician.
Illustrative interface demo; the values shown are not findings from a real project.
04 Application
A repeat mission following a comparable plan can help record the condition after servicing, a storm or a change in performance. For a valid comparison, survey conditions and the system’s operating state are recorded. The report gives an overview of locations and associated shots, without claiming that a photo alone confirms the electrical cause.
This view comes from our Solar AI platform. The drone captures an RGB and a thermal orthophoto, and the model recognises every panel and compares its temperature with the surrounding modules in the same string. On this rooftop plant of 196 panels it flagged one critical finding, two major and six minor anomalies for inspection.
Every finding gets a panel label, thermal and RGB frames, the temperature difference and a recommended action, so the technician on the roof knows straight away which module to check. The critical finding shown is a hotspot on a single cell, 38.5 °C warmer than the reference panels.
Solar thermography only makes sense when survey conditions are linked with the plant’s operation. That is why preparation includes the field layout, expected load, solar radiation, wind, access and the way components are labelled.
We ask for the location, any available drawing or string layout, the system’s nominal data relevant to maintenance and a description of the reason for the inspection. Together we define whether the whole plant, a specific field or only zones linked to an existing observation should be inspected.
Indicative timeline: confirmed in the quote after reviewing the site.The flight path is planned for consistent angles and sufficient visibility of the modules. Airspace, site safety and weather conditions are checked. The owner or maintenance provider confirms the system’s operating state and access rules; without suitable conditions, the survey is postponed rather than producing questionable data. Where applicable, we check Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (HACZ) procedures, airspace conditions and use of the AMC Portal before confirming the flight.
Indicative timeline: confirmed in the quote after reviewing the site.We capture the agreed extent, monitor data quality and record positions. Observed zones receive a more detailed shot when needed, while the wider context of the field is retained. The operator does not enter the electrical parts of the system and follows the procedures of the person responsible on site.
Indicative timeline: confirmed in the quote after reviewing the site.Data is organised by field, string or another label used by maintenance. AI tools can help with sorting, and the review links each thermal finding with the RGB image and map. The deliverables serve to prioritise further checks; the technical diagnosis and the decision on any intervention are made by an appropriate specialist.
Indicative timeline: confirmed in the quote after reviewing the site.We combine professional thermal and visual sensors with map views and our own software workflow for analysis. The goal is not to produce as many images as possible, but to link every relevant image with a location and component.
Thermal and RGB sensors allow the same zone to be inspected in two complementary views. We use the platform when it suits the size of the target, the safety conditions and the required level of detail.
See the DJI Matrice 4TThe software helps link the plant map, detected modules, paired shots and inspection status. Automatic classification remains an aid to expert work, not a final diagnosis.
Explore the Solar AI demoSuitable angles, operating state and weather context are key to a readable result. A separate thermal service is available for smaller or building systems.
Thermal drone inspectionWe carry out missions in Trnje, Novi Zagreb, Maksimir, Črnomerec, Trešnjevka, Dubrava and Sesvete, as well as in Velika Gorica, Samobor, Zaprešić, Dugo Selo and Sveta Nedelja. For larger plants we also travel to other locations in Croatia. Organisation depends on the size of the plant, airspace, the facility’s safety rules, weather and suitable operating conditions. For an assessment, send the coordinates, the approximate capacity or number of fields if known, the available module layout and the reason for the inspection.
We do not publish a made-up starting price before the actual scope is confirmed. We prepare the quote after reviewing the site, the survey goal and the expected deliverables, so the items and limitations are clear before a date is agreed.
The scope is mainly affected by the capacity and area of the plant, the string layout, the number of thermal and RGB shots, operating conditions, the level of analysis and the report format. Additional regulatory procedures, travel costs or repeat surveys are listed separately when needed.
Send the location or a map link, the approximate area, the purpose of the material, the desired format and the deadline. We will reply with the proposed method, quote items and a realistic date.
The answers explain the general process. Exact feasibility depends on the location, airspace, weather, equipment and the purpose of the data.
Send another questionA thermal image shows a temperature pattern that differs from its surroundings, but on its own it does not prove the exact electrical or mechanical cause. The finding needs to be linked with operating conditions, the RGB image and the identity of the component, and then, if necessary, confirmed by a qualified person with an appropriate measurement on site.
For many thermal goals the system needs to be in a suitable and known operating state, with sufficient solar radiation and acceptable weather conditions. We agree the exact conditions with the maintenance team according to the purpose of the inspection. If conditions are not representative, it is better to reschedule than to draw conclusions from poor data.
The content is agreed according to how the client works. It can include a coverage map, a list of geolocated findings, paired RGB and thermal shots, notes on conditions and a priority for further checks. We do not include invented categories or conclusions that the data and the responsible professionals cannot support.
Yes, when a reliable layout, field labels or other data linking the image with the physical component are available. Before the mission we check how maintenance identifies modules and what level of linking is realistic. If the base data is not precise enough, the finding is marked spatially without false certainty about the serial identity.
Send the location, the layout or drawing of the plant, the approximate extent, the maintenance contact and a description of the reason for the inspection. Site access, safety rules and available information about the system’s operation are also important. After reviewing the data we can propose the extent, sensor and structure of the deliverables. For a definitive answer we first review the specific site, goal and conditions of the planned activity.
An inspection before the end of the warranty period can document the location and visible temperature pattern of modules that need further checking. Such a record can help a service provider direct field checks and prepare technical documentation. Whether a warranty claim is accepted is determined by the manufacturer’s or service provider’s terms, and the electrical cause is confirmed by an appropriate specialist.
Yes. A comparable flight plan, a known operating state of the plant and recorded weather conditions allow a more meaningful before-and-after comparison. The report can link locations, paired RGB and thermal shots and the status of further checks. A repeat inspection documents the observed patterns, but the final technical assessment is given by an appropriate specialist.
For an initial assessment, send the plant’s coordinates, the field layout if you have it, the expected goal of the inspection and the contact details of the maintenance person. We will reply with a proposed extent and the data that needs to be prepared before a date is agreed.
