Quantified Energy Completes First Inverter-Fed Autonomous Drone EL Inspection on U.S. Soil at Acciona Energía’s 458 MWp Red-Tailed Hawk Solar Power Plant
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• In partnership with Ingeteam, Quantified Energy successfully executed a high throughput solar inspection, mapping 18,125 solar modules using autonomous drone electroluminescence technology and AI analytics.
• The project utilized Ingeteam’s central inverter functionality to back-feed current across multiple strings simultaneously, significantly accelerating EL data acquisition.
• The solution provides Acciona Energía with cell-level asset visibility to support long term performance, reliability, and bankability.
Quantified Energy (QE), a Singapore-based deep-tech company specializing in solar asset performance analytics, has successfully completed the first inverter-fed autonomous drone electroluminescence (EL) inspection on U.S. soil at Acciona Energía’s Red-Tailed Hawk Solar Power Plant in El Campo, Texas.
The milestone project was carried out at one of Acciona Energía’s largest photovoltaic assets globally, with an installed capacity of 458 MWp. Under a collaborative framework, QE deployed its specialized EL camera system, drone pilot training, and autonomous flight mapping software alongside three of Ingeteam’s INGECON SUN 3Power UL C Series inverters. The teams inspected a pre-selected section of 18,125 modules, with each inverter section requiring approximately two hours of inspection time.
The collaboration with Zeitview demonstrated how QE’s autonomous EL technology can be seamlessly integrated into utility-scale solar inspection programs. By combining QE’s advanced EL diagnostics and analytics with Zeitview’s operational expertise, scalable inspection platform, and deep relationships across the renewable energy industry, the project validated a repeatable model for delivering cell-level asset intelligence across large solar portfolios in the U.S. and beyond.
Advancing Utility-Scale EL Mapping
Traditional field EL testing has historically been constrained by slow, manual string-by string polarization, limiting its use in utility-scale asset management. By combining Ingeteam’s unique built-in EL functionality, which energizes all strings connected to the inverter simultaneously without the need for external AC and DC power sources, with QE’s high-throughput autonomous drone mapping technology, the project removed the need for external power supplies and manual string-box manipulation.
This integrated approach enabled QE to rapidly capture high-resolution EL imagery across thousands of modules, helping transition field EL from an isolated diagnostic method into a scalable quality assurance tool for utility-scale solar assets.
Data-Driven Insights for Solar Asset Management
EL imaging functions like an “X-ray” for solar assets, revealing microcracks and hidden cell-level defects that are not visible through standard visual inspection or thermography. QE’s proprietary AI-driven analytics platform processes EL datasets to generate module level health profiles and actionable technical insights.
These insights can help asset owners strengthen technical due diligence, support manufacturer warranty claims, streamline insurance assessments, and safeguard the long-term bankability of utility-scale solar installations.
“Successfully executing the first inverter-fed autonomous drone EL inspection in the United States validates the scalability of combining inverter-fed capabilities with autonomous aerial analytics,” said Dr. WANG Yan, CEO and Co-founder of Quantified Energy. “By delivering clear, cell-level diagnostics at this scale, we are equipping global asset managers with the precise data required to strengthen long-term asset reliability and quality assurance.”
Following this U.S. milestone, QE and Zeitview see significant opportunities to expand the availability of autonomous EL inspections across utility-scale solar portfolios globally. By combining advanced diagnostics, AI-powered analytics, and scalable field deployment capabilities, the partnership aims to help asset owners improve asset reliability, strengthen quality assurance programs, and maximize long-term energy production.
About Quantified Energy
Quantified Energy (QE) is a Singapore-based deep-tech company dedicated to advancing solar asset performance through AI-driven inspection and analytics. By combining autonomous drone technology with proprietary software, QE delivers actionable insights to optimize the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of solar installations globally.
Originally a spin-off from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), QE is backed by leading strategic investors including Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, Asian Development Bank Ventures, Beacon Venture Capital, and Qingsong Group.
About Zeitview
Zeitview is the market leader in visual AI for critical infrastructure, serving customers across oil and gas, wind, solar, property, and utility sectors. Zeitview provides full lifecycle asset analytics and visualization, helping the world’s largest enterprises prevent catastrophic failures, predict risk, and optimize maintenance spend across their portfolios. With more than 200,000 assets inspected in over 80 countries, Zeitview enables owners and operators to reduce risk, streamline operations, and make smarter capital allocation decisions.
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