Solar Panel Inspection & Thermal Service
Inspect solar installations with thermal imaging to find defects
Overview
Solar inspection specialists charge $300-$2,000 per site.
Inspecting 60-200 sites monthly generates $150,000-$800,000 annually with 75-90% margins.
In 2025, solar farms need efficient panel inspections.
Services include residential solar inspections ($300-$800), commercial solar array surveys ($800-$3,000), solar farm thermal scans ($2,000-$10,000 per MW), defect and hot spot identification, O&M inspection programs ($500-$2,000 monthly per site), and performance optimization reports.
Successful inspectors use thermal imaging to identify defects, inspect large arrays quickly, provide actionable maintenance data, reduce inspection time vs manual, and increase solar efficiency.
Solar installers and operators as clients.
Marketing through solar installation companies, solar farm operators, O&M providers, solar developers, and renewable energy companies.
Required Skills
- Thermal Imaging
- Solar Technology
- Drone Piloting
- Data Analysis
- FAA Part 107
- Renewable Energy
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Growing solar industry market
- Thermal inspections much faster than manual
- Recurring O&M inspection contracts
- Solar farms pay premium rates
- Technology-focused clients
Cons
- Thermal camera equipment expensive
- Need solar technology knowledge
- Seasonal demand fluctuations
- Data processing time-intensive
- Competition from solar O&M companies
How to Get Started
- Get FAA Part 107 and thermal imaging training
- Invest in thermal drone equipment
- Learn solar technology and defects
- Partner with solar installers and operators
- Provide fast thermal panel inspections
- Identify defects and hot spots
- Deliver actionable maintenance reports
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