Built for remote, exposed sites
- No mains supply needed. Cameras run on solar panels with a backup battery, so they can go up on day one, before any power reaches the site.
- No broadband needed. Every camera has built-in 4G and uploads its images automatically. If the signal drops, the camera keeps taking pictures and stores them for weeks until the connection returns.
- Made for the weather. Weatherproof housings and rigid mountings, checked throughout the project, keep the view steady in high winds, rain and winter conditions.
- Wide sites, sharp detail. 6K cameras are standard, with 8K and 12K for large sites and long-range views, so you can zoom into a single turbine base or inverter station from a camera placed well back from the works.
- Installed safely. Our own engineers survey, install and maintain every camera to RAMS, and work with your site team on access, permits and inductions.
What a wind or solar farm time-lapse captures
| Project |
Stages you can capture |
| Onshore wind farms |
Access tracks, turbine foundations and crane pads, component deliveries, tower and nacelle lifts, blade installation, substation and grid connection |
| Solar farms |
Groundworks, piling and mounting frames, panel installation across the site, cabling, inverters and the substation |
| Battery storage and substations |
Civils, plant delivery and installation, through to commissioning |
| Offshore and coastal |
Port and quayside works, fabrication and load-out. See energy, offshore and ship building. |
Covering a large site
A wind or solar farm can stretch over several kilometres, so one camera rarely shows everything. We usually plan a high, wide view of the whole site for the finished film, plus closer cameras on key areas such as a turbine base, the substation or the main compound. Cameras can be added or moved as work progresses across the site. Read how many time-lapse cameras does my site need?
Progress reporting for developers, funders and stakeholders
Every image goes to a secure online portal with a date and time stamp, so project teams, funders and stakeholders can follow progress without travelling to site. You get a clip from each camera every month during the build and a hand-edited film at the end, ready for investors, community updates, award entries and marketing. See time-lapse for investor and stakeholder reporting.
Secure images
Energy projects often have strict rules on who can see site images. Access to the portal is by secure login over an encrypted connection, and images are stored on our own servers in two separate UK locations. Read about time-lapse data security.
Add monitoring as well as filming
As part of the Survey Solutions Group, we can add environmental monitoring such as noise, dust and vibration, and structural monitoring, to the same project. For continuous video and live viewing, see SiteStream.
Wind and solar farm time-lapse questions
Can a time-lapse camera run on a site with no power?
Yes. Our cameras run on solar panels with a backup battery, so they can be installed before the site has a mains supply and keep running through the build.
Do the cameras need Wi-Fi or broadband on site?
No. Every camera has built-in 4G. If the signal drops, the camera keeps taking images and stores them until the connection returns, so nothing is lost.
How do the cameras cope with high winds?
Cameras are fitted in weatherproof housings on rigid mountings and checked throughout the project. Our engineers plan each position at the free site survey to keep the view steady in exposed locations.
How many cameras does a wind or solar farm need?
It depends on the size and layout of the site. Most projects use one high, wide view for the finished film plus closer cameras on key areas such as a turbine base or the substation. The free site survey recommends the right number.
Can investors and stakeholders see the images?
Yes. Images are available in the secure online portal, with a monthly clip from each camera and a finished film at the end, so you can share progress without site visits.
How long can the cameras stay on site?
For as long as the project runs, from a few days for a major lift to builds lasting several years.
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