Why implement in-house drone programs?
As more solar is being deployed with increasing velocity, there is escalating demand for both more data and more cost-effective means of capturing data. Using drones to collect imagery data of solar assets has gained widespread traction as an efficient, scalable, and safe method of collecting data.
Drones increase safety by removing the need for technicians to perform manual or visual inspections in potentially hazardous areas and offer a speedy form of data collection. In addition to aerial thermography, drone-captured data can support a wide spectrum of jobs to be done on a solar farm, such as monitoring construction, inspecting substations and POIs, investigating storm damage and potential erosion issues, and uncovering BOS component defects.
With the substantially declining costs of drones and the increasing need for more data, in-house drone teams are becoming the industry standard. Out of the top 10 North American solar operators, seven have in-house drone teams, providing them with mobilization flexibility and with a powerful tool for their technicians. In fact, many in-house drone teams consist of technicians who have been trained to fly drones.
In-house drone teams reduce costs, scale data collection efficiently, and offer workforce development opportunities. This e-book explores how training an in-house team of pilots can unlock savings and improve operational efficiency, as well as considerations for getting started with your own internal team of pilots.
Key takeaways:
Seven of the top 10 solar operators in the U.S. have in-house drone teams
Investing in workforce development, such as training technicians to operate drones, can reduce re-hiring needs, which can cost up to 3 to 4 times the annual salary of the role (source)
In-house drone pilots can result in significant cost savings over time, as labor costs are up to 30% of a typical data collection mission
Ensuring rapid response and flexibility in data capture
By allowing teams to collect data at will, in-house drone teams significantly enhance data capture efficiency. The shift enables swift and on-demand inspections, leading to timely remediation of issues and a reduction in outsourced labor costs.
Amidst escalating equipment underperformance, there is more demand for frequent and detailed assessments of asset health. This data, when combined with analytics software such as the Raptor Solar platform, can provide valuable insights into power production, labor efficiency, safety and fire risks, and other operational challenges.
Visibility into power loss issues is crucial because underperformance has direct bearing on the profitability of the project: Raptor Maps identified an average of $4,696 per MWdc in preventable annualized revenue loss for customers in 2023, which, extrapolated to the whole industry, totals $4.6B in potential revenue loss.
More data with high-quality analysis means more actionable insights, leading to better decision-making, prioritization, and improved asset management.
Case Study: Enhancing Solar Asset Performance with an In-House Drone Data Program
A leading renewable energy company partnered with Raptor Maps to enhance the performance of its extensive solar portfolio. This collaboration included building an in-house team of drone pilots with a goal of maximizing power production across more than 1GW of managed assets in North America.
The renewable energy company trained its technicians with the help of Raptor Maps’ certified pilots and technical experts. This training enabled quick mobilization for data collection, crucial for restoring reduced power supply promptly. With this new capability, the company could perform detailed inspections and gather essential data, ensuring more efficient asset management and maintenance.
Boosting labor savings with internal teams
Retaining technicians and providing workforce development
As the solar industry rapidly grows, it will be ever more important to upskill and develop talent to keep up with rapidly evolving technology and standards. In-house drone teams offer a unique professional development opportunity for technicians, which can support workforce retention and minimize (re)hiring costs.
Technicians trained as drone pilots can perform multiple roles, maximizing the value of each truck roll. This approach not only improves operational flexibility but also ensures that data collection is more frequent and consistent.
The cost to hire a new technician is orders of magnitude higher than the cost of investing in a workforce development solution such as in-house drone training: Roughly $128,000 as compared to $4,000.*
Read more here: How to Navigate FAA Part 107 Licensing for Solar Drone Operations
Sources: $4,000 estimate includes cost of hardware, training fees, and Part 107 licensing fees; $128,000 replacement worker estimate assumes 1.5 times the median salary of a NY solar worker
Case Study: Scaling Solar Rebates with an In-House Drone Pilot Team
In order to streamline the implementation of a utility customer’s rebate program that incentivizes the installation of solar panels on businesses, global energy expert DNV sought a safe and scalable means of data collection because the traditional methodology of counting modules manually was both dangerous and inefficient.
DNV collaborated with Raptor Maps to build an internal team of pilots, and over three days of training, employees become licensed drone pilots capable of collecting data safely and reliably. This initiative enabled the team to forego manual labor processes and gather accurate data quickly. Following data collection, the team used Raptor Maps software to automate reporting on module counts, consequently ensuring the efficient implementation of the rebate program.
Operationalizing in-house drone programs
When operationalizing an in-house drone program, there are several key factors to consider for ensuring success:
Assessment of Opportunity & Readiness: Start by building a strong business case and calculating the ROI associated with integrating an in-house drone program. This will help in understanding the viability and potential benefits of the initiative
Implementation Planning: Develop a detailed project plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan should cover the mobilization of labor and capital required to successfully launch and sustain the drone program
Enablement Support: Execute your project plan effectively by including comprehensive training on data capture, necessary licensing, and more. This step is crucial to ensure that your team is fully equipped and ready to operate the drones efficiently
Equipment Procurement Strategy: Consider the hardware necessary for data capture. Factors such as cost, durability, and specific use cases should guide the selection of the appropriate drones and related equipment
Data Collection Flight Training: On-site training is essential. Train your field technicians on how to capture data according to high standards, including obtaining Part 107 licensing and optimizing data analytics
Continued Program Support and Strategy: Identify and take the necessary actions for ongoing operationalization and long-term success of the drone program. Continuous support and strategic planning are vital to keep the program running smoothly and efficiently
Raptor Maps can support you in each of these areas to ensure a seamless and successful implementation of your in-house drone program.
Our expertise includes assessing viability, creating tailored plans, providing extensive training, and offering continued support to drive the success of your drone operations.
Read more here: Training Technicians to Fly Drones
Drones: Beyond IR inspections
Drone technology offers diverse applications beyond thermal inspections, including:
Substation inspections
Capture the visible and thermal condition of each major substation component and locates potential faults or anomalies
POI inspections
Drone-based inspections of POIs can proactively identify risks on an occurring basis to reduce safety concerns, and avoid costly system downtime risks
SCADA-driven alert missions
Identifies the root cause of a SCADA alert and inform what in-field actions are necessary
Wiring inspections
Identify and verify exposure to potential serial defects
Tracker malfunction monitoring
Identify trackers that are misaligned with other rows and not correctly angled given the time of day
Fence-line inspections
Quickly assess your solar array’s perimeter to ensure security and identify obstructions or hazards affecting system performance
Erosion monitoring
Rapidly identify scenarios in which erosion is causing hardware to shift or impacting panel efficacy
Wildlife management
Safeguard coexistence of wildlife and solar assets while maintaining peak power production
The demand for both more data and cost-effective methods of capturing it is escalating in utility-scale and C&I solar. Drones have emerged as an efficient, scalable, and safe solution for collecting imagery data of solar assets.
In-house drone teams are becoming the industry standard, particularly as the costs of drones decline and the need for comprehensive data grows. By increasing operational flexibility, reducing labor costs, and offering significant savings, these teams can efficiently scale data collection. The use of trained technicians to operate drones not only reduces the need for extensive manual inspections but also provides valuable workforce development opportunities.