Drone technology is becoming an increasingly integral part of the wind industry as major renewable industry players are looking at new ways to utilize the technology to support wind projects.

Until now, drones have primarily been used within the wind sector to provide additional aid with inspection services.

These advanced technologies have played a key role in capturing detailed imagery, conducting comprehensive blade inspections, exploring internal and external blade areas, and removing the requirement for potentially unsafe confined space inspections. (Find out how drone solutions are used within the GEV Group.)

New industry developments

This month, one of the industry’s major energy companies announced the introduction of heavy-lift cargo drones for the first time in an operational offshore wind campaign. The concept was initially tested last year at a UK offshore wind farm through a series of trials using the new technology.

The drones, which have a wingspan of 2.6 metres, can transport up to 100 kg of cargo and aim to help improve operational efficiency and safety while reducing carbon emissions from operating an offshore wind farm.

Typically, a vessel would sail from one wind turbine to the next, using a crane to lift each box containing the equipment onto the transition piece, after which the box would be lifted with the nacelle’s crane to reach the nacelle and then be moved to the top of the turbine. Instead, the drone will fly back and forth from an offshore supply vessel directly to the top of the nacelle.

The drone flight from the vessel to the turbine takes roughly four minutes per turbine, while the conventional approach without using drones can take considerably longer. Taking vessel transport between the turbines and to-and-from shore into account, the use of the new drones has allowed the team to complete tasks at the wind farm 10 -15 times faster than average.

The drones are said to reduce costs, save time, and improve operational safety and efficiency, minimizing the need for multiple journeys by ship.

The new technology also reduces work disturbance as wind turbines do not have to be shut down when cargo is delivered, preventing risk and making it safer for personnel working on the wind farm.

The announcement of the heavy-lift drones highlights the new innovative ways technology is being utilized to support the wind sector. Companies across the wind industry continue to harness cutting-edge technology to make green energy more affordable, reliable, efficient, and sustainable across the value chain.

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