Project Description

In June 2025, DroneHive carried out a precision drone solar panel inspection on a private home in Dorchester, Dorset. Using advanced drone thermal imaging UK and high-resolution aerial photography. Our service included full aerial surveying for solar PV systems—boosting efficiency and reducing downtime.

  • Detailed solar panel drone surveys South West with CAA permission, site risk assessments, and homeowner approval.

  • Our DJI drone acquired combined RGB + thermal images, capable of detecting hidden malfunctions like faulty bypass diodes, hotspots, shading, and soiling with high precision

  • We generated georeferenced thermal maps to uncover heat anomalies—precision essential for insurance validation and maintenance

  • Delivered a professional PDF with visual evidence, heatmap overlays, grid-tagged issues, and maintenance guidance to optimise system performance.
Performance Metrics

The system operated at 15.7 % efficiency (3.7 kW actual vs. 4.4 kW ideal)—fully in line with standard PV performance tolerances.

Structural & Environmental Findings

Minor tile lifting flagged (low‑risk) and light surface soiling noted; we recommended preventative cleaning to preserve optimal panel output.

Lifetime ROI Gains

Early issue detection supports efficient maintenance and enhances system longevity—backed by industry‑proven ROI: drone inspections cost up to 30–40 % less than traditional methods and speed up detection by 97 %

We delivered a professional-grade solar roof scan in under 20 minutes, deploying automated GPS‑guided grid flights at consistent altitude and overlap to generate high‑fidelity imagery—both RGB and thermal. Real-time remote monitoring ensured only top-quality data was captured. Post-flight, our team processed combined datasets into geo‑accurate maps and thermal orthomosaics, isolating micro‑level anomalies—cell hotspots, lifting tiles, soiling—with near‑99 % detection accuracy.

Drone thermal image of roof dorchester

Dorchester Project

Thermal Image

RGB Drone Scan

Dorchester Orthomosaic

Driving success to your business

This project exemplifies DroneHive’s technical excellence and commercial agility. The precision, speed, and depth of insights we delivered in Dorchester highlight our capability to provide timely, cost-effective, and regulation-compliant drone solar inspections. Routine clients in Dorset and throughout the South West rely on our CAA-certified pilots and industry-grade equipment to manage assets safely and maximize solar ROI.