Start your career with an interesting master/bachelor thesis or internship at DLR Solar Research Institute, one of the world’s leading institutions in the field of solar technology!
You are passionate about renewable energies and energy transition? Join our team!
The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) power plants is negatively impacted by various soiling of the modules’ surfaces. The resulting efficiency and the cleaning costs play an important role for the economic success of PV parks. The soiling distribution within a power plant can be spatially strongly inhomogeneous. Currently, soiling is only measured at a few points in the solar park. Knowing the spatial distribution allows significant improvements in terms of cleaning and hence plant efficiency.
The group of Solar Energy Meteorology has developed an image-based method to estimate the electrical power losses of soiled PV modules. The method uses images captured by drones or surveillance cameras. Currently, the method is optimized for the analysis of PV modules soiled by dust and sand. In the thesis the method has to be enhanced by the detection and classification of other soiling types. These are in particular snow, leaves, and bird droppings.
The first task will be the creation of a database containing images of soiled PV modules captured by different cameras at different sites. The sites will be CIEMAT’s Plataforma solar de Almería (PSA) as well as powerplants operated by project partners of DLR. By using classical computer vision tools the different soiling types will be segmented and labeled. The final part will be the implementation of an AI program that detects and classifies the soiling.
You will be closely integrated into our diverse and highly motivated team in the “Solar Energy Meteorology group” located in Almería (Spain). An experienced colleague will closely work together with you and support you throughout the entire work. The project will be aligned with the responsible professor of your university.
Look forward to a fulfilling job with an employer who appreciates your commitment and supports your personal and professional development. Our unique infrastructure offers you a working environment in which you have unparalleled scope to develop your creative ideas and accomplish your professional objectives. Our human resources policy places great value on a healthy family and work-life-balance as well as equal opportunities for persons of all genders (f/m/x).Individuals with disabilities will be given preferential consideration in the event their qualifications are equivalent to those of other candidates.
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