Was beeinflusst den Preis einer PV-Thermografie?
The question of costs comes first in almost every enquiry. Understandable – but the answer is more complex than a single figure. What a thermographic inspection costs depends on system size, location, report scope and provider. This article explains the decisive quality and cost factors and shows what to look out for when selecting a provider.
Our prices: transparent and immediately calculable
Unlike many providers we give concrete prices – directly on the website, without a prior conversation. Our Sofort-Kalkulator calculates the price for your system in seconds: enter system size, choose package, enter address – done. Travel costs are automatically calculated via route calculation from Hamburg; the first 15 km are free of charge.
Enter system size and location address – the calculator shows you the price including travel costs immediately.
Go to price calculator →The calculated prices are binding guide values – the final quote after your enquiry generally does not deviate from them, except in special access situations (e.g. high-security sites, offshore systems or very complex roof geometries). For standard commercial and industrial rooftop systems: what the calculator shows is what you pay.
The 6 most important cost factors
Anyone who wants to understand why quotes for apparently similar systems vary so widely must understand the cost drivers:
Economics: when is an inspection worthwhile?
The decisive question is not what an inspection costs but what undetected defects cost. The starting point is the annual yield loss from undetected defects – in practice this is 5–15% of rated power, often without the operator noticing.
Rechenbeispiel: 100-kWp-Gewerbeanlage
Wirtschaftlichkeit: Undetected defects cause annual yield losses that add up considerably over the lifetime of a system. In most cases an inspection pays for itself within a few months – provided defects found are also remedied.
This calculation applies under the premise that defects found are also remedied. Thermography without subsequent remediation is like a doctor's visit without treatment – it delivers the diagnosis but brings no economic benefit. For this reason our full-service approach (inspection + remediation) from a single source is the most efficient path.
From when is an inspection worthwhile?
Faustregel: The earlier a defect is detected and remedied, the lower the cumulative yield loss over the remaining lifetime of the system. We help you assess the economic viability of an inspection for your specific system.
There are also systems that have been running in partial-load operation for years without the operator knowing about the defects – a more common scenario than one might assume.
Price comparison: what distinguishes expensive and cheap quotes?
Two quotes for the same 200 kWp system can differ by a factor of 3. There are reasons for this – and not every price difference is justified:
| Kriterium | Günstiger Anbieter | Professioneller Anbieter |
|---|---|---|
| Kameraqualität | Consumer-IR (160×120 px) | Professionell ≥640×512 px |
| Normkonformität | Keine Angabe | IEC TS 62446-3 nachweisbar |
| Personalqualifikation | Drohnenpilot ohne Thermografie-Erfahrung | Experienced thermographer with practical track record |
| Bericht | PDF with photos, no temperature data | IEC-Bericht, georeferenziert, Temperaturtabellen |
| Verwendbarkeit | Nur intern | Versicherung, Gewährleistung, Gericht |
| BOS inspection | Oft nicht enthalten | Wechselrichter, Anschlusskästen inklusive |
| Instandsetzung | Nicht möglich | Full-Service aus einer Hand |
The cheapest quote is rarely the most economical. A report that is not standards-compliant helps neither with insurance claims nor with enforcing warranty rights against the manufacturer – the actual primary motivations for many operators.
Tipp: Ask every provider explicitly about camera resolution (min. 640×512 pixels) and the standards reference in the report (IEC TS 62446-3). Reputable providers answer these questions without hesitation.
Steuerliche Absetzbarkeit
For operators of commercial PV systems thermographic inspections are generally Betriebsausgaben fully tax-deductible. This applies both to the inspection costs themselves and to consequential costs such as repair measures. The prerequisite is that the system is attributable to the business assets – which is the case for most commercial, industrial and solar farm systems.
For private individuals with a PV system in private assets the tax situation is more complex and depends on whether the system serves income generation. For individual tax questions we generally recommend consulting a tax adviser.
Unser Angebot:
For commercial and industrial systems we offer flexible inspection packages – from the quick analysis to the complete IEC-compliant expert report. Contact us with your system details and we will promptly prepare a concrete quote.
Our service covers the complete IR survey of all modules, the identification of all thermally conspicuous areas and an estimate of the yield loss. Based on this you decide whether a detailed IEC report or direct remediation is the next step.
Jetzt Angebot anfragen
Briefly describe your system to us – we will prepare you an individual quote without any prior commitment.
Anfrage stellen →Häufige Fragen zu den Kosten
The cost depends on system size, location and report scope. We prepare an individual quote on request – contact us with your system details.
The most important factors: system size, system type, distance to the provider, desired report scope (Basic package or Premium with expert opinion), number of BOS components and the provider's seasonal workload.
In most cases yes. For a 50 kWp system with 10% yield loss the operator loses considerable yield annually. When defects found are remedied an inspection typically pays for itself quickly.
For commercial PV systems inspection costs are generally tax-deductible as operating expenses. For individual questions we recommend consulting a tax adviser.
Consumer cameras do not meet IEC TS 62446-3 and are not usable for insurance or warranty purposes. For serious diagnoses a professional inspection is the only sensible option.
Conclusion
The costs of PV thermography are manageable – the economic benefit with consistent follow-up is considerably higher. What matters is not the cheapest price but the combination of report quality, standards-compliance and the ability to actually have defects remedied.
Wer wissen möchte, when the right time for an inspection is, or what a Thermografie technisch leistet, you will find further articles in our knowledge base. For every system size we prepare an individual quote – the direct path to diagnosis without financial risk.