H-Bar Omega: Solar Panel Diagnostics

This post is a part of the Early Stage Climate Startup series from Climafix 2024

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AI-Driven integrated PV Imager, uses Light Beam Induced Current (LBIC), Electroluminescence (EL), Photoluminescence (PL), & Thermography Imaging that provides precision in identifying and quantifying defects in solar panels.

H-Bar Omega’s Integrated PV Imager combines up to four imaging methods LBIC, EL, PL, and Thermography, that provide precision in identifying and quantifying defects in solar panels.

Performance & Defect Identification: Solar panels often fail to deliver optimal performance over their 30-year lifespan due to undiagnosed defects. The current industry standard (Electroluminescence imaging) does not provide a comprehensive understanding of defects, leading to misdiagnosis and early panel failure. Hbar Omega solves this problem by offering a multi-modal imaging platform that can accurately identify defects and assess their impact on power conversion.

Lifespan & Waste Reduction: Accurately diagnosing defects early, solar panel manufacturers and operators optimize maintenance and replacements, ensuring that solar panels last for their full projected lifespan of 30 years, minimizing the number of defective panels entering the field, and thereby reducing waste.

Current Target Segments: Solar module manufacturers, solar PV R&D laboratories, financiers, and regulatory agencies.
Future Target Segments: Space exploration (ISRO) and defense agencies (DRDO) could be their future customers.

LBIC at Module Scale: H-Bar Omega’s proprietary technology enables cell-level analysis, and module-scale LBIC imaging, giving them a distinct advantage in identifying and quantifying defects across entire panels.
Combination of Imaging Techniques: By combining LBIC, EL, PL, and Thermal Imaging, H-Bar Omega provides more accurate diagnostics than existing solutions that rely solely on one method.

K. S. Narayan (Founding Director): With an MSc from IIT Bombay and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, has over 25 years of experience in semiconductor optoelectronic devices. He has contributed significantly to R&D, with numerous publications and patents.
Prashant Kumar (Founder & CTO): Dr. Prashant Kumar, a Ph.D. graduate from JNCASR, has 9 years of expertise in solar cells, semiconductor device characterization, and system automation. He leads the design and development of instrumentation, optical assemblies, and data analysis systems.