Evaluation of Photovoltaic Systems Performance Using Satellites and Drones Digital Imaging

Due to changing lifestyle and population growth, the demand for energy is increasing at an unprecedented rate, leading to an increase of greenhouse gas emissions caused by conventional energies. Renewable energies, more particularly photovoltaic energy have been frequently used following the strategy proposed by the Moroccan government. Certainly, this technology is considered an environmental solution but its suitability in the field still poses performance challenges. This is where the use of remote sensing and GIS tools makes it possible to select the optimal area, monitor the installed photovoltaic panels, and evaluate their performances. This study aims to evaluate the performance of photovoltaic generators using digital imaging. In fact, there is a possibility of improving precision of identifying PV generators by switching from satellite images to have digital information that can evaluate performances according to importance of sensing the thermal behavior and reflectance from panel to panel. Remote sensing is used for evaluating the presence, absence and performance of photovoltaic panels. It can collect data on photovoltaic system using satellite images to rightly choose location and orientation for photovoltaic panels and evaluate their general state. This is done by controlling solar irradiation, monitoring panel temperature, detecting module fouling, managing vegetation and monitoring water levels. However, satellite images cannot be used to precisely take images as done by drone thermal imaging offering greater flexibility and higher spatial resolution from different angles of close distance. In fact, evaluation of photovoltaic panels’ performance using drone imagery enables individual panel dysfunctions to be detected, making it simple to resolve these problems in a real time and helping to guarantee system sustainability by minimizing cost and time charges involved for PV systems maintenance.