Question 1

What drone inspection services does Varuna Aerotech provide?

Accepted Answer

Varuna Aerotech provides solar panel drone inspection (thermal imaging, EL testing, IV curve testing), wind turbine blade inspection, transmission line and powerline inspection, pipeline inspection, infrastructure progress monitoring, topographic survey, industrial surveillance, and inventory management. All services are IEC 62446-3:2022 compliant.

Question 2

How long does a drone inspection of a solar plant take?

Accepted Answer

For a 1 MW solar plant, a full thermal inspection typically takes 2–4 hours of flight time. A 10 MW plant is covered in a single day. IV curve testing and EL testing take additional time depending on sample size. Reports are delivered within 48 hours of the survey.

Question 3

What defects can drone thermography detect in solar panels?

Accepted Answer

Drone thermal imaging detects hotspots caused by bypass diode failures, cell cracks, soiling patches, PID (Potential Induced Degradation), string disconnections, junction box failures, and shading anomalies. Severity classification and GPS-tagged fault maps are included in every report.

Question 4

What is EL (Electroluminescence) testing and when is it needed?

Accepted Answer

EL testing uses a specialised camera to photograph panels under electrical excitation, revealing micro-cracks, finger interruptions, and cell breakage that thermal imaging alone cannot detect. It is especially recommended for post-installation acceptance testing, insurance audits, and post-storm or hail damage assessment.

Question 5

What is IV Curve testing for solar panels?

Accepted Answer

IV Curve testing measures the current-voltage characteristic of each string or module to identify degraded performance, mismatch losses, and shading effects. Combined with thermal imaging, it provides a complete picture of solar plant health. Reports include comparison against nameplate specifications.

Question 6

Is Varuna Aerotech DGCA certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Varuna Aerotech operates with DGCA-certified drone pilots and adheres to all NPNT (No Permission, No Takeoff) compliance requirements for commercial drone operations in India. Our team carries valid Remote Pilot Licences (RPL) and all flights are conducted within applicable airspace regulations.

Question 7

What is IEC 62446-3:2022 and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

IEC 62446-3:2022 is the international standard for infrared (IR) thermographic inspections of photovoltaic systems. Inspection reports compliant with this standard are required by lenders, insurers, and O&M warranties. Varuna Aerotech's reports follow this standard for fault classification, reporting format, and methodology — making them bankable and accepted by major financial institutions.

Question 8

Are your reports accepted by banks and insurance companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our IEC 62446-3:2022 compliant inspection reports are structured for lender reporting, insurance claims, and O&M performance warranties. They include GPS-tagged thermal images, fault severity classification, module-level data, and actionable recommendations.

Question 9

How much does drone solar inspection cost in India?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on plant size, location, scope of inspection (thermal only, EL testing, IV curve), and access conditions. We provide custom quotes within 24 hours. Contact us at hemal@varunaat.in or +91 83206 53318 with your plant size and location for a free quote.

Question 10

Which states and cities does Varuna Aerotech cover?

Accepted Answer

Varuna Aerotech covers all major solar and wind states in India including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, we mobilise to any location across India.

Question 11

Do you offer annual O&M inspection contracts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer annual, bi-annual, and quarterly inspection contracts for solar plants and wind farms. AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) clients get priority scheduling, discounted rates, and trend analysis reports comparing inspection data year over year to track degradation rates.

Question 12

What drones and cameras do you use?

Accepted Answer

We use professional-grade thermal drones equipped with FLIR and DJI Zenmuse thermal sensors, high-resolution RGB cameras for visual inspection, and multispectral cameras where needed. For EL testing we use purpose-built electroluminescence imaging systems.

Question 13

What does the inspection report include?

Accepted Answer

Every report includes: executive summary, methodology (per IEC 62446-3:2022), GPS-tagged thermal and RGB images of each fault, fault classification by severity (Critical, Moderate, Low), string-level fault mapping, estimated performance loss percentage, and prioritised maintenance recommendations. Reports are delivered in PDF format within 48 hours.

Question 14

What is the difference between RGB, thermal (IR), and LiDAR drone data?

Accepted Answer

RGB (visible light) cameras capture high-resolution photos for visual inspection. Thermal (infrared) cameras detect temperature differences indicating electrical faults or heat loss. LiDAR uses laser pulses to create precise 3D terrain models used in topographic surveys and vegetation encroachment analysis. Varuna Aerotech offers all three data types depending on inspection requirements.

Question 15

How soon do we receive the inspection report after the survey?

Accepted Answer

Standard turnaround is 48 hours from survey completion. For urgent requests (e.g., insurance claims or pre-commissioning acceptance), we offer 24-hour expedited delivery.

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