Safety of Remote Virtual Inspections for Residential Solar and Storage Systems
This qualitative study explores the safety of remote virtual inspections (RVI) for solar and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the U.S.
This report explores the safety of remote virtual inspections (RVI) for solar and/or battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the U.S. RVI refers to inspections conducted using remote technology to eliminate the need for a physical site visit. Common approaches for RVI include uploads of recorded photos and/or videos or live video calls.
The report details the history and current prevalence of RVI and provides a qualitative review of its safety and benefits compared to onsite inspections, based on interviews with local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), software providers, and quality assurance inspectors in the U.S. that have utilized virtual inspections.
This document is intended for local permitting offices and state policymakers who are considering the adoption of RVI for residential solar and BESS projects. For the purposes of this document, residential projects are defined as one- and two-family homes. Only inspections related to the safety of a solar and/or BESS system were considered within the scope of the paper (i.e., planning or zoning inspections were not included in this review).
This research was conducted by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), with support from Permit Power.
Note: This document constitutes the full report; a shorter white paper version was released in January 2026.
