06/29/2026
Picture this: the sun is out you're ready to fly a solar farm for a thermal inspection....but then you see this! What's wrong with the panels??
Nothing! But why are we still reading sharp temperature gradients across modules?
The answer lies on the surface of the panel itself.
Surface moisture, nearly undetectable to the naked eye, has a significant impact on photovoltaic cell temperatures, and thus, masks any anomalies under the moisture.
Sunny summer days often begin with elevated dewpoints here in the Midwest, and the resulting condensation pools on horizontal arrays.
If the inspection flight is completed before the panels are completely dry, the resulting data is corrupted and not viable for a satisfactory report.
At Staufer Aerial, we take all environmental factors into consideration when performing our inspections - despite the illusion of a "perfect sunny day", to deliver consistent results to our clients.
