The Danish startup Quali Drone, together with offshore wind operator RWE and a number of partners, has demonstrated autonomous drone inspection of offshore wind turbines in operation offshore. Using drones equipped with visual cameras, thermography and AI-based image analysis, damage to wind turbine blades can be identified while the turbines are producing power. This can reduce downtime, costs and CO2 emissions during inspections. This is stated by Energy Cluster Denmark in a press release.
Inspections of wind turbine blades are normally carried out when the turbines are stopped, but in the innovation project AQUADA-GO, the partners have developed a technology that makes it possible to inspect the blades autonomously and contactlessly while they are rotating.
The solution is based on the AQUADA technology from DTU Wind Energy, where an AI model analyzes visual and infrared images to identify abnormalities and potential damage on and below the blade surface. The concept has now been demonstrated offshore for the first time at the Rødsand 2 offshore wind farm south of Lolland.
- We have proven that it is possible to inspect offshore wind turbines autonomously with a drone with a visual camera while the wind turbine is in operation. We have worked on developing both software and hardware, mission planning and data infrastructure, and now we have a commercially ready solution that can be adapted to the needs of wind turbine operators and make inspections easier, faster and cheaper, says Jesper Smit, CEO of Quali Drone.
Can increase quality and employee safety
The technology has been tested several times on land and has now also been demonstrated offshore at Rødsand 2, where RWE has been the operator since 2010. According to the partners, the combination of autonomous drones and AI-based analysis allows for continuous monitoring of the condition of the blades without stopping production.
- For the first time, we have succeeded in a drone inspection of wind turbines in operation offshore. Through the technology developed in AQUADA-GO, we can see the potential in monitoring the condition of the blades without stopping the offshore wind turbine, which can increase efficiency and improve safety for our employees, says Marcus Mejborn, General Manager of Rødsand 2 offshore wind farm in RWE.
The AQUADA-GO project runs from 2022 to March 2026, has a total budget of almost DKK 17.8 million and is supported by EUDP. The partner group consists of Quali Drone, the Technical University of Denmark, RWE, Statkraft, TotalEnergies and Energy Cluster Denmark.
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