Using drone inspection to increase

productivity on your renewable plant

Mr Riaan Meyer

MD, GeoSUN Africa, South Africa

CONTENTS

•Renewables – RE-IPPPP

•Hydro

•Wind

•Solar (Photovoltaic)

2

GEOSUN AFRICA HISTORY

3

• Based in Stellenbosch (Cape Town)

• Established in 2012

• As spin-off company of the CRSES (Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies) at Stellenbosch University

• On the ground in 16 African countries. Recently expanded to the Middle East and Central America.

• Utility scale solar projects. Prospecting solar stations (bankable studies), weather stations during construction, pyranometer calibration, PV module testing and inspection.

RE-IPPPP Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Program

www.energy.org.za

RE-IPPPP Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Program

Hydro Plants

Surveying

Visual mapsHigh resolution visual maps.

3D modelsDetailed 3D modelling of surveyed area.

VolumetricsCalculation of volume.

ElevationDigital elevation profiles and contour maps.

Credit for images/info: Aerobotics

Visual Inspections

Wind Farms

Turbine blade inspections

Credit: ropepartner.com, media.treehugger.com

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Facilities

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Facilities

Scatec Linde 40 MW PV Facility, Hanover, South Africa

Installation

15

PV Inspection Services

Thermal/Infrared (IR) Visual

PV Inspection Services - Handheld

PV Inspection Services - Handheld

PV Inspection Services - Drone

PV Inspection Services - Drone

23

PV Inspection Services - Drone

ONSITE THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION

24

PV Inspection Services - Drone

PV Inspection Services - Drone

Case Study

38 disconnected strings

=228 kW (20 x 300 W modules)(0.265 % of 86.5 MWdc)

2000 kWh/kWp irradiance levels

456,000 kWh/a

BW2 @ R 1.65/kWh (excluding inflation)

R 752 400/a (R 62,700/m)