# Solar Panel Thermal Inspection Report Example

What a solar PV thermal inspection report contains: block survey layout, thermal anomaly classes, string-level findings and the IEC 62446-3 reporting duties.

Straight after the survey, to the O&M contractor or asset manager who will actually act on it - not to the site owner alone. Timing matters more here than on other jobs: a thermal anomaly only means something against the irradiance and load at the moment of the flight, so a report that lands weeks later is far harder to act on. Tie every anomaly to a string and an inverter, and the next visit is a repair rather than a second inspection.

- **Written from:** 03 Solar PV thermal inspection, in the Drone Inspection Report Template Pack (https://canfly.io/toolkit/drone-inspection-report-template)

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> This is a worked example, not a real survey. Every name, address and finding is invented. It shows how the template reads once the placeholders are filled in and the guidance notes are deleted.

## Solar PV Thermal Inspection

*Dobrich Solar Park, blocks A-F*

- **Report reference:** AER-2026-207
- **Client:** Meridian Renewables Asset Management
- **Site:** Dobrich Solar Park, Dobrich Province, Bulgaria
- **System:** 1.8 MWp ground-mount, 4,140 modules, 12 blocks
- **Module type:** Trina Vertex S, 435 Wp
- **Date of survey:** 22 June 2026
- **Surveyed by:** A. Petrov, operator BGR-OP-4471

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### 1. Executive summary

2,070 modules of 4,140 were inspected by aerial infrared thermography on 22 June 2026, covering blocks A to F. 31 thermal anomalies were identified, affecting 1.9% of inspected modules.

| Class | Anomalies | Modules affected | Est. affected capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| String / combiner outage | 2 | 44 | 19.1 kWp |
| Module - multiple cells / bypass diode | 6 | 6 | 2.6 kWp |
| Single cell hotspot | 19 | 19 | Localised |
| Soiling or shading | 4 | 12 | - |

Principal recommendation. Investigate the two string outages first. Together they account for 19.1 kWp that has not produced since the last inverter log reviewed. Both are more likely to be a combiner-level fault than module failure.

### 2. Scope

Aerial infrared thermographic survey of blocks A to F of the PV array, to identify thermal anomalies indicative of underperformance.

Carried out in general accordance with IEC 62446-3 - outdoor infrared thermography of PV modules and plants.

Not within scope: electrical testing, IV curve tracing, electroluminescence, insulation resistance, inverter or SCADA data review, structural or civil condition.

### A worked finding, from later in the report

**PV-01 - String outage, Block C** (S2)

- **Location:** Block C, row 14, string C-14-03, modules 1-22
- **Observation:** Whole string uniformly elevated by approx. 12 K relative to neighbouring strings. Pattern consistent with an open circuit or tripped protection rather than module failure.
- **Estimated effect:** approx. 9.6 kWp not producing
- **Recommendation:** Check combiner box C-14 fusing and string isolation before inspecting individual modules.
- **Evidence:** IR_0231 / VIS_0232

## The rest of this report

Withheld here; complete in the Drone Inspection Report Template Pack (https://canfly.io/toolkit/drone-inspection-report-template), as an editable
.docx and a finished PDF.

- 3. Limitations
- 4. Method and conditions
- Severity scale
- 5. Findings
- 6. Anomaly schedule
- 7. Recommended actions
- Appendix A - Image index
- Appendix B - Operator details

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**Citing this page:** canfly?, “Solar Panel Thermal Inspection Report Example”, https://canfly.io/toolkit/examples/solar-pv-thermal-inspection-report.
canfly? aggregates the official UAS geographical zones that EU and EEA states publish under
Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 15. It is not an air-traffic or flight-authorisation service;
critical flights must be confirmed against the national authority.