Renewable energy makes up 29% of the world’s energy generation; out of this, Solar energy produces roughly 20% and is forecasted to grow. Solar Power is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. The ‘Return On Investment’ in the Solar Energy Sector becomes even more crucial both financially and environmentally.
As per the Solar Energy Market Outlook report, the global solar energy market is expected to reach $223.3 billion by 2026, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 20.5% from 2019 to 2026. Well, that’s not surprising – when it comes to solar energy sectors, drones can help companies through the plant’s entire life cycle!
From planning to implementation and maintenance, the applications of drones in the Solar Sector are tremendous. Drones coupled with the right payloads provide a massive boost in operations processes – better turnaround time & reporting, safer inspections, improved preventive maintenance and much more. Any issue with a cell, panel or entire string will appear as hotspots to the thermal sensor. Coupled with artificial intelligence, drones can also help improve the layout of solar fields. Objects like transmission lines, a shadow from nearby vegetation, the slope of the landscape, and so on can be scrutinised and taken care of while finalising the layout.
Drone solutions have already made your Solar inspections simple and efficient. Now, how about we introduce some autonomy into the mix? Remove the need for a pilot on the field; which eliminate the set-up and deployment time; with one simple move, you’ve doubled the efficiency and speed – All that is now possible through the DJI’s drone-in-a-box solution, the DJI Dock.
A drone-in-a-box is a fully autonomous system where the drone is housed in a protective box designed to provide shelter for the drone when not in use. Likewise, the box also serves as a charging hub and launching/landing pad. The drone takes off, fly a predetermined route, and return to its box autonomously, without human intervention.
With its ability to autonomously launch and capture drone data at a moment’s notice, the Drone-in-a-box solution is taking drone technology to the next level. This is particularly useful for business operations requiring frequent and routine data capture of large areas, like the Solar Energy sector.
The DJI Dock is rugged, reliable, and built to operate 24/7, day or night, rain or wind. It enables fully automated inspections, surveillance, mapping, engineering supervision, and other missions that may require longer-distance beyond visual line of sight flights (BVLOS)— all with minimal human intervention. Each DJI Dock houses a Matrice 30, which lands, recharges, takes off, and executes missions programmed in DJI FlightHub 2. The DJI Dock is designed for ease of use and enables automated BVLOS enterprise capabilities with quick turnaround times. Configuration is carried out using the DJI RC Plus, which oversees linked control of the Dock, drone, mission details and scheduling, and management of collected data.
The DJI Dock is rated IP55, which means it is resistant to dust infiltration. Likewise, the key internal components are rated IP67, making it waterproof even when the doors are open and exposed to rain. Furthermore, its inside is climate controlled to return the drone’s batteries to appropriate charging conditions. The Dock keeps inside temperatures steady despite outdoor temperatures varying from – 35 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Owing to its brilliant functionalities and performance; its ability to autonomously collect high-resolution data quickly, accurately and efficiently, DJI Dock can be used for site planning, progress monitoring, asset inspection, and monitoring the safety and security of your solar farms.
"If you are not using drones already, you are already behind the curve"
Green hydrogen, or hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources like solar power, is anticipated to play a key role in transforming the UAE into Net Zero by 2050. Similarly, green hydrogen is also expected to be a catalyst for decarbonising the entire global economy. Solar Power is invaluable to mankind, just like how drones are to the Solar Sector!
How are you finding it? If you are a professional in the Solar Sector, you want to take advantage of this invaluable asset; Get ahead of the curve with DJI Dock – It is a secure, reliable, and compliant solution for Faster, Safer, and more cost-effective operations. Drop us a line at hello@thedronecentre.ae, to learn more!
