Vattenfall tests autonomous monitoring of offshore wind turbines for damage

As part of the "Automated Inspection and Repair of wind Turbine Blades – Resident Offshore Monitoring & Inspection" (AIRTuB-ROMI) project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the energy company Vattenfall has used drones and artificial intelligence (AI) in the Netherlands to automatically monitor offshore wind turbines. Cargo drones then deliver spare parts.

The system that Vattenfall has tested essentially consists of four components: sensors in the wind turbine blades, AI to analyze damage, an autonomous inspection drone and a cargo drone. Sensors in the rotor blades of the offshore wind turbines first check whether there are any anomalies. If this is the case, AI algorithms are used to detect possible damage and localize it more precisely.

Damage detection by autonomous drones

In order to obtain more precise information about the extent of damage, the system then automatically requests an inspection drone, which is waiting to be deployed at offshore docking stations in the wind farms. The drone then flies autonomously to the relevant wind turbine and takes high-resolution images of the rotor blades from different angles.

The drone also lands on the damaged rotor blade of the stopped wind turbine to carry out an ultrasound measurement and detect cracks in the rotor blade, for example. This makes it possible to obtain comprehensive information about the structural condition of the blade. A maintenance team evaluates all this information and plans any necessary repairs.

The spare parts can be delivered to a maintenance team on site by cargo drones. Drones can transport spare parts and tools from maintenance vessels faster and more cost-effectively than boats. The use of a drone is also more environmentally friendly, as no large boats have to travel to the site. The repair workers do not have to wait for the slower boats and spare parts. Safety is also increased: no more employees are needed for dangerous sea transportation. In some cases, the required parts can also be delivered directly from service centers on land, provided they are close to the offshore facilities.

According to Vattenfall, the drones can also be used in bad weather. Vattenfall believes that drones and AI will significantly improve offshore wind operations. With even more advanced AI algorithms, drones can become more autonomous, carry out inspections independently and more accurately, help detect damage at an early stage and make decisions on repairs themselves.

Vattenfall also wants to compensate for the lack of maintenance personnel for offshore facilities. This is because there is a shortage of qualified technicians.

In a further step, the energy company is planning to use drones for lightning protection tests in wind farms. These have to be carried out regularly and generally tie up personnel who are needed elsewhere.

(olb)