China's rapidly expanding solar power sector is increasingly adopting advanced inspection technologies to maintain operational efficiency at large photovoltaic installations. An 80 gigawatt integrated hydro, wind and solar power base in southwest China has deployed the FLIR T540 thermal imaging camera to identify equipment faults, improve inspection efficiency and support preventive maintenance strategies across the facility. China accounts for more than 40 percent of global photovoltaic capacity, positioning the country as a critical market for solar power development.
However, large PV installations face significant operational challenges including fluctuating power output, equipment failures, operational risks and the high cost of conventional inspection and maintenance procedures. The FLIR T540 is equipped with a FlexView dual field-of-view lens technology that allows maintenance teams to switch between a 24-degree standard field of view and a 14-degree telephoto view without changing lenses. This capability enables operators to inspect equipment efficiently and locate faults with greater accuracy while maintaining safe working distances from high-voltage equipment.
In solar module inspections, thermal imaging identifies hot spots caused by shading, physical damage and diode failures. According to the deployment documentation, temperature differences exceeding 5 degrees Celsius can indicate potential problem areas, allowing maintenance teams to take corrective action and reduce the risk of power losses. The technology can also detect micro-cracks and poor solder connections, which typically appear as low-temperature linear or mesh patterns.
Early identification supports operators in scheduling repairs and extending module service life. Thermal imaging has proven effective in detecting potential PID-related degradation, which manifests as high-temperature patterns along the edges of PV modules. Early detection enables maintenance teams to address affected modules before degradation becomes more severe.
Beyond module-level inspections, the FLIR T540 supports comprehensive electrical equipment surveillance. The system inspects inverters, transformer boxes, battery banks, insulated busbars, SVG systems and incoming cables. Thermal inspection identifies overheating at inverter heat sinks and electrical terminals, enabling operators to address problems before equipment failure occurs.
Battery inspections reveal abnormal temperature increases and localised hot spots that may compromise battery performance and safety. The technology detects poor electrical contact and insulation deterioration in busbars while identifying abnormal temperatures in SVG power modules, reactors and cable connections. The deployment represents a significant advancement in preventive maintenance approaches at large renewable energy facilities.
By identifying faults at an early stage through thermal imaging, operators can reduce unplanned downtime, improve equipment reliability and manage maintenance resources more effectively as solar power capacity continues to expand across the region. Source: Solar Now, August 12, 2026
Source: google.com