Thermal Drone Solar Inspection Gawler: Case Study

The short answer

In October 2026 NG Elec flew a DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone over a commercial solar array in Gawler. The thermal images showed hot spots where built-up dirt from poor maintenance had overheated the cells, and panels were burnt and damaged. The full system needed replacing. Regular cleaning and inspections would likely have caught the problem much earlier.

The system

What went in.

Inspection	Thermal drone, DJI Matrice 4T
Pilot	CASA-licensed
Site	Commercial roof
Finding	Overheated, burnt cells from built-up dirt
Outcome	Full system replacement required
Date	October 2026

The job

Brief, build, result.

The brief

The array on this Gawler commercial roof hadn't been looked after. Dirt had built up on the panels over time, and from the ground nothing obvious looked wrong.

Dirt that sits on panels can stop parts of a cell from working. The cell then heats up, and over time that heat can burn and damage the panel.

What we did

We flew our DJI Matrice 4T thermal drone over the array with a CASA-licensed pilot. The thermal camera shows heat, so problem cells stand out as bright hot spots.

The images showed hot spots across the array, including along panel edges where dirt had collected. Up close, panels were burnt and damaged.

The result: The damage was too widespread to repair, so the full system needed replacing. The lesson is simple: regular solar panel cleaning and checks would have caught this long before it got that far. A thermal drone inspection finds hot spots you can't see from the ground.

Photos

On the job.

Close thermal view of panels with bright hot spots, Gawler

Hot spots along panel edges where dirt had built up, Gawler

FAQ

Questions people ask us.

Can dirty solar panels really get damaged?

Yes. Built-up dirt can shade parts of a cell, which then overheats. Left long enough, as on this Gawler roof, cells can burn and panels can be damaged beyond repair.

How much is a thermal drone inspection?

Thermal inspections are normally $750. During hail season we also offer a home hail check for $149.

What does a thermal inspection show?

It shows heat. Faulty or overheating cells show up as hot spots, so we can find problems across a whole array that you can't see with the naked eye.

How often should commercial solar be checked?

It depends on the site and how dusty it is, but regular cleaning and checks are what prevent this kind of damage. We can recommend a schedule after an inspection. See our solar maintenance and repairs service.

Free quote

Book a thermal drone inspection.

Find hot spots before they turn into burnt panels. Tell us about your system and we'll be in touch to book it in.

1
We call you
A local consultant calls within one business day to ask a few questions.
2
We design it
We look at your roof, bills and switchboard, using satellite and drone imagery where it helps.
3
You get an itemised quote
Clear pricing with rebates already taken off. No pressure, no call centre.

Lifetime workmanship warranty$0 deposit optionsLicensed electriciansFree, itemised quotes

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More

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Thermal drone inspection of a commercial solar roof in Gawler

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