Danish transport and logistics company DSV and offshore wind developer Ørsted have successfully tested delivery of spare parts and tools to an offshore wind turbine using a long-range drone
The concept was tested earlier in June in the Kattegat, with the drone flying from Grenaa direct to a wind turbine in the Anholt offshore windfarm.
The electric-powered drone has a range of 100 km and a payload capacity of 2.5 kg. An initial series of tests in which parts were transported to an offshore substation took place in 2022.
Ørsted head of digital and innovation Klaus Baggesen Hilger said, “We are constantly exploring new opportunities to minimise downtime for wind turbines and increase renewable power production.
“The drones we used are powered by renewable electricity and fly autonomously to the offshore location. Being able to quickly, efficiently deliver spare parts means downtime can be reduced. At the same time, the need to use ships is reduced, as are carbon emissions.”
DSV said, “The top of a wind turbine is an unusual and challenging location for cargo delivery. Nonetheless, using an autonomous drone we successfully delivered the cargo to a wind turbine in an operational offshore windfarm.
“This delivery was the most recent test in a joint project between Ørsted and DSV in which we are testing long-distance drone transport of spare parts and tools. Sometimes a single missing spare part can cause critical delays and downtime, which can be reduced with quick and efficient delivery using cargo drones.”
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