A guest post from Jennifer Dawson.
Maximizing Energy from Solar Installations
Solar power is an economical source of clean and renewable energy, and, as it becomes more practical and affordable, is growing in popularity with homeowners. Sunlight is directly converted to electricity via photovoltaic cells on solar panels, but the positioning of these panels can affect the amount of energy produced. Lidar can be used to help develop a comprehensive model of an area, mapping out the presence of trees and other large objects, the position of buildings and the angle and direction of a roof. With this extensive data, it is quick and easy for installers to determine the ideal position for solar panels, and accurately calculate how much solar radiation they will receive in any given period of time.
Surveying with Solar-Powered Drones
The precise mapping of an area for its potential for solar installations can in turn be powered by energy from the sun. Drones are commonly used for surveying purposes, taking hundreds of photographs to create a model of a site. By adding dragonfly-like wings to provide more surface area, a new design of fully-automated drones can be fitted with a large array of solar panels to provide a reliable source of energy, tripling the battery life. While their design makes them aerodynamic and easy to operate, the drones are also more substantial than a regular drone. This means they are to carry up to 5kg of payload, including Lidar and other advanced measuring and imaging technology, improving the accuracy of the data they collect.
The symbiotic relationship between advanced technologies can lead to improvements in precision and performance. When drones reliably powered by solar panels are fitted with Lidar, they can be used to quickly and accurately assess a location’s suitability for the installation of increasingly popular solar panel installations.
