PV-Thermografie Österreich: Solarpark-Inspektion ab 1 MW

Austria is massively expanding its solar farm portfolio – in 2023 and 2024 alone several hundred megawatts of new ground-mounted capacity were added. With a growing number of systems the need for professional thermographic inspections increases – ones that are not only standards-compliant but also recognised by Austrian insurers and authorities. This article explains what operators of large PV systems in Austria need to know about inspection standards, drone permits and travel costs.

Austria's solar farm market and inspection requirements

Austria has drastically accelerated its photovoltaic expansion in recent years. Installed capacity grew from below 3 GW (2021) to over 6 GW (2024) – with a disproportionate share of ground-mounted systems from 1 MW erected under the Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG) subsidy schemes. Many of these systems are due for their first professional full inspection after 3–5 years of operation.

The Austrian market for PV inspection services is considerably less developed than Germany. Most local providers focus on smaller rooftop systems up to 100 kWp – for solar farms from 1 MW there is a shortage of specialist providers with standards-compliant report documentation to IEC TS 62446-3 and the equipment for large-area drone surveys. This gap is the starting point for our deployments in Austria.

Which standards apply in Austria?

In Austria the OVE guidelines (Austrian Electrotechnical Association) and the corresponding ÖNORM standards generally apply to the inspection of electrical systems. For thermographic inspection of PV systems, however, the international standard IEC TS 62446-3 is governing – it is recognised in Austria just as in Germany and Switzerland as the accepted standard for thermographic inspections of solar systems.

The Austrian equivalent of VDE (OVE EN 62446) requires regular inspections by qualified personnel for electrical PV installations. Insurers such as Wiener Städtische, Uniqa or Generali Austria accept thermographic expert reports to IEC TS 62446-3 for PV claims settlements – this is the same standard we maintain for German insurers.

For operators subsidised under the EAG regular technical documentation and maintenance is a contractual mandatory criterion. A standards-compliant thermography report is here part of the operator obligations towards OeMAG (the clearing house for renewable electricity).

Drohnenregelungen in Österreich

Since EU Drone Regulation (EU) 2019/947 came into force a uniform regulatory framework applies across all EU member states. Our German drone licences are therefore also fully valid in Austria – no separate Austrian approval is needed.

For surveys in the "open category" (drones under 25 kg, outside security zones) no separate permit is required. For ground-mounted systems near airports, military areas or nature conservation areas we obtain the necessary permits from Austro Control (ACG) – we handle this completely for our customers. Processing time is typically 5–10 working days.

Warum ab 1 MW besonders wichtig

For solar farms from 1 MW – corresponding to approximately 2,000–2,500 modules with modern 400 Wp technology – the economic calculation for thermography changes fundamentally. Inspection costs at this system size typically account for less than 0.15% of annual revenues. At the same time undetected defects such as PID on individual strings or systematic hotspots from substandard modules can cause 3–8% yield loss.

From 1 MW we recommend the Komplett-Paket with hand thermography of BOS components: for solar farms of this size DC main distribution boards, string boxes and the inverter infrastructure are critical weak points not captured by drone survey alone. Overheated connectors and corroded terminals are frequent findings at Austrian ground-mounted systems – particularly in the humid locations of the Alpine foothills and Styria.

Ablauf einer Inspektion aus Deutschland

Deployments from our Hamburg base to Austria follow a structured process. After receiving the enquiry we check system data, location and any permit requirements. We plan the optimal weather window (at least 600 W/m² irradiance, wind below 4 m/s) and coordinate the appointment with the operator. Travel typically takes place the evening before the deployment day.

On site we carry out the complete drone survey of all modules, followed by hand thermography of BOS components. All measurement conditions are logged. You receive the standards-compliant IEC report with geo-referenced thermograms, anomaly classification and recommended actions within 5 working days of the deployment.

Travel costs and price transparency

Travel costs from Hamburg to Austria are between €350 and €550 depending on location (€1.00/km × return trip, first 15 km free). Specifically: Vienna is approx. 1,000 km, Graz approx. 1,050 km, Linz approx. 830 km, Salzburg approx. 780 km, Innsbruck approx. 900 km. These costs are calculable in the price calculator on the homepage immediately – enter the address and the total price is calculated automatically.

For systems from 1 MW travel costs are low relative to the inspection fee. A 2 MWp ground-mounted system in Lower Austria costs typically €4,500–5,500 in the Complete package including travel – an economically worthwhile investment for a system with a seven-figure investment volume.

For operators with multiple systems in Austria we plan tours: multiple systems in one trip mean considerably lower per-site costs. Contact us with your location data for an individual tour plan quote.

Insurance and expert reports in Austria

After hail damage – which is particularly frequent in Austria, especially in Styria, Lower Austria and Burgenland – a standards-compliant damage expert report is the prerequisite for a successful settlement with Austrian PV insurers. Our Premium package with expert opinion to IEC TS 62446-3 and VdS 2858 is accepted by leading Austrian insurers for PV claims settlements.

For technical due diligence when buying or selling solar farms in Austria we produce complete condition expert reports that comply with German and Austrian legal standards. The report is usable as an expert witness report in Austrian jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions