Solar panel inspection in Cardiff

Standard visual and electrical checks in Cardiff run £149–£249. A full thermal imaging (FLIR) inspection for a typical 4 kW domestic system costs £249–£449. Commercial inspections are quoted per kWp, usually £0.03–£0.06/W.

In Cardiff, look for MCS-certified installers offering inspection, NICEIC for electrical sign-off, and ITC Level I/II thermography credentials for FLIR work. PV system inspectors should be familiar with IEC 62446-1 and the MCS 015 array test sheet.

Yes — Wales's cool maritime climate and 3.5 peak sun hours means even a 6–10% output loss is a meaningful chunk of an already-modest UK yield. Most Cardiff systems benefit from a check every 4–5 years.

Yes. Generators on the legacy FiT or current SEG often need third-party performance evidence to flag underperformance to installers or the SEG licensee. A £300 inspection commonly recovers £200–£800/year in lost generation income.

Yes — commercial drone surveys in Cardiff need a CAA-registered operator with an A2 CofC or GVC for built-up areas. Most reputable UK providers fly DJI M30T or Mavic 3T airframes with calibrated FLIR sensors, and the full survey of a domestic array takes 15–25 minutes.

For UK domestic systems, the leading findings are inverter efficiency loss (5–25% output drop) and partial shading from neighbouring growth or aerials. Soiling is lower-risk than in arid climates, but moss and bird streaking on north-facing arrays can still cost 3–8%.