Solar energy has seen explosive growth over the past five years, with global capacity more than tripling since 2019. As more private homes, commercial buildings, and solar parks are equipped with PV systems, ensuring long-term efficiency through reliable monitoring has become essential.
Installation errors, weather influences and wear can cause defects in modules and components such as inverters, that considerably reduce energy output. Infrared thermography can be used to detect such problems quickly, precisely and reliably.
A thorough inspection is particularly important for large systems such as solar parks, as even a single defective solar cell can affect the yield of the entire system. Thermal imagers from Testo offer the ideal solution for this – especially for module connections and components that are difficult to access. This ensures that your PV system delivers its maximum output in the long term.
Detect thermal anomalies on photovoltaic systems quickly, safely and reliably
Occurs when an inactive cell continues to be supplied with power by the active cells, e.g. due to lightning or hail.
The cell then converts this energy into heat.
The resultant "hotspots" could even destroy the module.
Overheated cells can be identified very easily with the thermal imaging cameras
Our Recommendation for PV Inspections
Detect defects and maximize energy output in solar plants with ease. The testo 883-1 combines high infrared and thermal resolution to reveal even small issues in modules, connections, and inverters. Its dedicated solar mode handles bright sunlight and reflections, while exchangeable lenses and intuitive software make large-area measurements and reporting efficient — so you can focus on keeping your PV system performing at its best.
High Resolution of 320 x 240 pixels enhanced to 640 x 480 pixels with testo SuperResolution
Outstanding thermal sensitivity (NETD) of 40 mK
Dedicated solar mode for more measurement certainty thanks to solar radiation intensity input
Manual focus for an extra level of precision
Exchangeable telephoto for distant solar panels on roofs
Powerful software for more efficient inspections and professional reports
Ensuring the efficiency of solar parks with thermal imagers from Testo.
Just a single faulty cell can reduce the output of a solar park — and visual inspections often miss these hidden issues.
This paper shows how thermal imaging makes it easy to detect defects early, from malfunctioning cells to faulty connections, even under challenging sunlight conditions.
Advanced solar inspections
Ideal for fast, precise solar inspections, the testo 883-1 combines high-resolution thermal images with interchangeable telephoto lenses to capture distant panels on roofs.
Manual focus ensures sharp details, the solar mode documents the sun radiation during the measurement, and the free IRSoft software creates professional reports.
Best-Sellers for All-Rounders
Unlock fast, reliable solar inspections and share results instantly on site with the testo Thermography App, or perform detailed analyses using the free IRSoft and turn your findings into professional reports.
Ideal for easy to reach panels that can be checked from a closer distance.
Testing PV systems with a thermal imager
When to check
What needs to be checked
Environmental and measurement conditions
Positioning of the imager
Error patterns and causes
Thermography for photovoltaic systems
Useful information about the thermographic inspection of solar panel systems of all sizes.
Smart as thermography can be
- Stream thermal images live from the imager to smartphones or tablets
- Analyze thermal images quickly while on site
- Add measuring points or comments
- Create reports quickly and send them by e-mail
