Possibilities of drone applications in solar power plant controls

Abstract

The world's energy consumption is growing continuously; developed countries are trying to satisfy the higher consumption - partly or fully - in an environmentally friendly way. One of these possibilities is to use solar energy with the help of solar power plants. Solar power plants are characterized by the fact that they occupy significantly large areas, so the detection of possible operational problems, malfunctions, their inspection and maintenance can also be difficult. In addition, drones, as novel tools for aerial reconnaissance and data collection, are evolving dynamically, with commercial and public service applications now emerging in addition to military applications. The article discusses the possibilities and limitations of the meeting of the two novel technologies, examines how drones can promote the reliable operation of solar power plants. To do this, it first provides an overview of the basic uses of drones and some of the characteristics of solar power plants, and then reports on the experience of using drones so far and the conclusions that can be drawn from it.