The use of a drone for wind turbines
Properly inspecting and maintaining wind turbine blades is vital to the renewable energy industry. Early identification of potential issues allows operators to prevent costly downtime and maintain the smooth operation of their turbines. Damage or malfunction to blades can cause major disruptions and result in significant financial losses.
Conducting inspections using traditional methods, such as manned inspections, can be costly, time-consuming and pose significant risks to the skilled personnel required to access tall structures in remote locations. Additionally, methods such as capturing blade images from ground cameras often yield low-quality results.
Advancements in safer, more efficient, and reliable inspection methods can help to improve the reliability and competitiveness of the wind energy sector, and aid in the global shift towards renewable energy sources.
Using drones can double wind turbine inspections in the same amount of time, making drones a cost-effective solution.