University of New South Wales (UNSW) start-up Lab360 Solar in developing and trialling a drone-based solar inspection technology that could transform the way large-scale solar farms are monitored.
Supported through the ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program, Lab360’s project will advance its Daylight Photoluminescence (DPL) imaging technology, using aerial drones to capture high-resolution images during the day.
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This helps identify faults and damage in solar panels, right down to individual cells, that other inspection methods often miss. It’s also more accurate, cheaper and easier to use than traditional approaches, which usually require more equipment, people and off-site testing.
Originally developed at the UNSW through a previous ARENA-funded R&D project, DPL technology offers a scalable and cost-effective alternative to existing photoluminescence methods.
Lab360 CEO Thorsten Trupke said the $3.96 million ARENA funding was vital in getting Lab360 off the ground and ensuring its innovations can be transitioned from proof-of-concept demonstration, into fully operational commercial solutions.
“Our drone-based Daylight Photoluminescence technology is a result of more than two decades of systematic research and development into luminescence imaging at UNSW,” Trupke said.
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“Once rolled out commercially, first in Australia and then globally, it will be central to ensuring that photovoltaic panels are a reliable and sustainable cornerstone of the future energy mix, by enabling better monitoring, early fault detection and long-term performance of solar assets.
“Australia, with its world-leading adoption of solar power and its ambitious trajectory towards net zero, is the perfect place to pioneer and commercialise this innovation. We are genuinely excited to play a small part in the incredible energy transition that is currently taking place.”
