Infrared (IR) thermography has emerged as a powerful tool for detecting thermal anomalies such as hotspots, cell mismatches, shading effects, and degradation in PV modules under real operating conditions. Abstract—Utility-scale solar arrays require specialized inspection methods for detecting faulty panels. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in thermographic analysis. Thermography in PV, or photovoltaics, is a non-invasive technique used to detect and analyze temperature variations in solar panels. By using infrared cameras, thermography allows for the visualization of heat distribution across the surface of solar panels, providing valuable insights into the. However, Lock-in Thermography combined with high-performance infrared cameras can detect temperature differences in the microkelvin range. Such hotspots are readily detected with a thermal imager while the panel is exposed to sunlight.
