Autonomous Drones Monitor Floating Photo voltaic Farms

Percepto Autonomous Drones to be Deployed to Monitor Floating Photo voltaic Farm

by DRONELIFE Workers Author Ian M Crosby

Immediately, main autonomous inspection and monitoring resolution supplier Percepto revealed that it has efficiently concluded a proof-of-concept (POC) for the statement of a 250 acre floating photo voltaic farm alongside the Electrical Producing Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

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Positioned 350m off of the closest shoreline on the Sirindhorn dam basin in Southeastern Thailand, the photo voltaic farm is likely one of the largest of its form, and contains seven sections supported by buoys. Reflecting Thailand’s aim of reaching carbon impartial standing by 2050, the floating photo voltaic farm consists of 145,000 photo voltaic panels, which collect energy from the solar throughout the day and convert vitality from flowing water at evening. In partnership with Thai drone consultancy and tools supplier Prime Engineering Company, Percepto AIM software program and Percepto Air drone-in-a-box will enable for autonomous routine inspections of apparatus to ensure correct operation and find defects.

The photo voltaic farm’s measurement and distance from land makes tools inspection and upkeep difficult. If not deploying drones, the inspection employees can be required to method the panel through boat so as to full a handbook inspection of the panels, whereas additionally below the stress of climate circumstances corresponding to intense warmth, rain and fog. Percepto’s sturdy drone-in-a-box resolution was the primary system to go Degree 5 hurricane testing at wind speeds of as much as 155 mph, and is able to enduring Thailand’s warmth and humidity.

Percepto’s drones will full routine operations and upkeep reviews, map the panel’s location, and conduct inspections of substations, transformers, floating fences and photo voltaic floaters which maintain the panel above water. Upon finding an anomaly, employees can be made conscious of the precise downside and its location. Whereas rules require one particular person to stay close by, the inspection can in any other case be carried out remotely from over 600 km away in Bangkok.

“We’re very excited to companion with EGAT and Prime Engineering Company on this distinctive and environmentally sustainable electrical energy venture,” mentioned Percepto CEO and Co-founder Dor Abuhasira. “Autonomous drones are strengthening the sustainable positioning of renewable vitality services to attain world local weather targets. With Percepto drones, photo voltaic farms corresponding to EGAT may be constantly monitored and inspected no matter their measurement or location to additional unleash the potential of renewable vitality sources.”

“This venture illustrates the breadth of our distinctive capabilities as international locations discover modern options of their push to cut back their reliance on conventional vitality sources,” mentioned Ehud Ollech, Percepto’s Head Of Enterprise Growth and Partnerships. “We’re trying ahead to full drone deployment and dealing with EGAT and Prime Engineering to leverage the various advantages of our platform.”

“Percepto drones will dramatically enhance the consistency at which the panel offers prospects with electrical energy, how rapidly repairs are made, and the protection degree of our staff,” mentioned Chanapan Kongnam, Chief of EGAT’s Gasoline Enterprise Growth Division. “Reasonably than sending out employees to examine the panel, we are going to deploy inspections far more steadily than could possibly be achieved manually. Workers are solely despatched out when repairs are crucial and they’ll know the character of the issue and the place will probably be situated to spend as little time on the water as potential.”

“We applaud Thailand for its innovation and dedication to growing sustainable vitality sources,” mentioned Kornnarong Tungfung, Managing Director at Prime Engineering. “By deploying autonomous drones powered by AI know-how, Thai photo voltaic farms can be constantly noticed for quite a lot of components to make sure they constantly generate electrical energy for the folks of Thailand.”

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Ian attended Dominican College of California, the place he obtained a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong ardour for writing and storytelling and a eager curiosity in know-how, he’s now contributing to DroneLife as a employees author.