Assessing the Degree of Thin-Film Delamination
Case Overview
A progressing issue with delamination was observed within a 20 MW solar installation. There was also concern about how much the defects were impacting production, as lower energy yield had been noted. Therefore, all affected modules needed to be quickly inspected to assess the degree of delamination within each unit. The data was to be delivered in the form of a professional report with accurate calculations.
What is Thin-film delamination?
Thin-film delamination is when solar cells separate from the surface of the module’s foil. This sort of defect is clearly visible in the form of white marks and can lead to substantial energy loss.
Case Facts
- 20 MW solar installation
- Sites operating for more than 11 years
- Drone inspection – photos taken from 30 meters above the site
Solution
Solar Spy took on the task and developed the process from scratch to address the specific needs of the client. In order to collect accurate image data from the drone flights, precise instructions were provided by Solar Spy’s expert technicians. Next, Solar Spy’s proprietary AI algorithms performed a detailed analysis of the PV installation.
Benefits
- The entire process was designed and carried out to fit specific client needs – for thin-film delamination analysis.
- The report gave full transparency of the condition of the site.
- Solar Spy’s inspection identified numerous modules as highly delaminated, with more than 6% level of damage – therefore classified as needed to be replaced.
