Drones solutions provide critical visual and thermal data on the condition of power stations, so personnel can identify risks and address them quickly without shutting down operations.Energy industry sectors like solar, wind, powerlines rely on inspections to maintain safety standards to effectively power the world, but those inspections can take large amounts of time and money to carry out. With drones flying overhead utility sites, damage on everything from wind turbines to solar panels can quickly be identified, preventing potential problems before they grow.
With information collected by a drone, abnormalities and damage can be quickly pinpointed, progress can be monitored, and everything from orthomosaics, to elevation data, and 3D maps can be created.
Drones are being increasingly used by the energy industry for a wide range of purposes. For example, they can be used to inspect pipelines, power lines, and wind turbines, allowing for quicker and more efficient assessments of the structures. Drones can also be used to survey energy infrastructure in remote areas, providing valuable data on potential sites for renewable energy projects. Additionally, drones can be used to monitor natural gas flaring activities, a process that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve safety in energy production. With their ability to cover vast distances, drones are also being used for monitoring and surveillance purposes, ensuring the security of energy infrastructure. Overall, the energy industry is embracing the use of drones to improve operations, reduce costs, and enhance safety and environmental performance.
Drones are compact and flexible, able to fly into boilers for a full scan without shutdowns or endangering inspection workers.The live footage helps identify risks for informed decision-making.
DJI drones are equipped with advanced obstacle sensing systems with the option to add a spotlight attachment, so they can be reliably deployed for internal inspections.
When it comes to drone inspections in the wind energy sector, the market is driven by the large amount of blades that need to be regularly monitored for deterioration and damage.
Automated flight routes can be set up to conduct thorough, repeatable inspections of the wind turbine without safety risks to personnel.
Drones can get close-up images of defects on the blade such as cracks, water ingress, corrosion or rust with a zoom camera without shutting down operations.
Drone inspection results are quantitative and digitized, facilitating data analysis and recordkeeping.
The life span of solar panels depend on regular and efficient maintenance, and because solar farms run over expansive areas of land, inspections can take large amounts of time and money. With a drone survey, inspections costs can be cut in half so companies can increase their efficiencies and better stay on top of operation maintenance.
Drone automated flight routes can be set up to conduct thorough, repeatable inspections of solar farms without safety risks to personnel.
Previous to drone technology, helicopters or industrial climbers would have to perform inspections on power lines. Not only would this pose a risk to employees, it was also a much slower and costly process. Industrial climbers would have to climb posts to access power lines, and helicopters would be extremely expensive and intrusive. In contrast to manned aerial vehicles or placing people in dangerous situations, drones are a much safer, quieter, and environmentally friendly alternative.
With high quality imagery, operators can assess the condition of power lines, to prevent damage and potential outages from occurring. A drone performing routine and regular inspections with pre-programmed waypoints can also provide high quality imagery from optimal perspectives, and give operators a detailed analysis of any malfunctions.