As wind energy usage continues to grow, competition within the industry and among suppliers is intensifying. Only the most efficient products and services will maintain a lasting presence in the market. To optimize the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of wind turbines, drones are being used in various ways. Their applications range from simple data collection and transport flights to lightning protection inspections.
Large offshore wind farms, in particular, offer significant potential for energy generation. However, like their onshore counterparts, they present enormous logistical challenges in terms of operation and maintenance. Many traditional inspection and maintenance techniques are often associated with considerable time and resource investments, as well as risks for personnel. In numerous areas of application, drones provide a more efficient, cost-effective, and safer alternative to traditional methods. For example, they can inspect rotor blades, nacelles, and other components, transport tools and spare parts, and collect data for operational monitoring.
Headquartered in Nottingham, England, ONYX specializes in predictive maintenance for wind turbines. This approach involves using predictive analysis to identify and prevent damages or malfunctions before they result in significant problems or downtime. Together with Nearthlab, a UAS manufacturer from South Korea, ONYX has developed an integrated system for comprehensive turbine monitoring. Using specially trained AI software for wind turbine inspections, the turbines can be flown autonomously, and the collected data can be analyzed. If damages are detected in the photos, the files can be immediately processed, enabling visual inspections or even repair measures to be planned and initiated.
The joint project FOD4Wind (Flexible Offshore Drone for Wind) aims to identify ways to eliminate operational inefficiencies in offshore wind farms through automation. For example, by equipping supply vessels with drones capable of autonomously transporting spare parts and tools to turbine nacelles. This concept is similar to what the Danish energy company Ørsted recently achieved in collaboration with the Italian drone manufacturer FlyingBasket under real-world conditions.
Reducing downtime, lowering maintenance costs, and cutting climate-damaging emissions offer significant benefits that are likely to appeal to wind farm operators worldwide. FOD4Wind serves as a prime example of how collaboration between industry and research institutions can lead to practical technological innovations, helping to address the challenges of scaling wind energy generation.
> This article was created in collaboration with Drones: The Magazine for the Drone Economy. www.drones-magazin.de
