Drones support the energy sector in the era of transformation

Expert insights

Jacek Stężowski , Editor of e-magazyny.pl

As outlined in a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the worldwide market for commercial is projected to achieve a valuation of $41.3 billion by the year 2026. The most substantial segment within this market is expected to revolve around catering to the requirements of the energy industry, accounting for an estimated sum of around $6 billion.

The initial informal trials involving the utilization of drones within the energy sector were conducted by the BP company as far back as 2006. However, it wasn’t until a decade later that this technology commenced broader implementation, mainly due to the standardization of flight regulations.

Since that point, drones have emerged as a versatile solution addressing a multitude of challenges within the energy industry. These range from conducting inspections on critical infrastructure to providing valuable assistance throughout the construction phase.

Remote inspections

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, play a crucial role in the energy sector, primarily by conducting remote inspections. However, their applications extend beyond inspections and are utilized by both renewable and conventional energy industries.

Drones offer a multitude of advantages to the energy sector. One of the key benefits is their ability to perform remote inspections and monitor critical infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring employee safety by eliminating the need to send personnel to potentially hazardous or difficult-to-access locations. These drones can collect real-time data, facilitating the immediate identification of issues and swift implementation of solutions. Furthermore, incorporating drones significantly reduces inspection costs. By employing diverse sensors like RGB, thermal, or LiDAR cameras, drones can perform thorough surveys of energy infrastructure, encompassing transmission lines, wind farms, and solar power plants. Vad Melnyk, the CEO of Dronehub, emphasized the transformative impact, stating, “Drones can carry out detailed surveys of energy infrastructure, such as transmission lines, wind farms, or solar power plants.”

Dronehub offers innovative charging docks designed for various industrial drone types, equipped to withstand extreme weather conditions and capable of operating using multiple power methods, including solar energy. This adaptability renders them an ideal solution for challenging locations like remote wind farms or solar power installations. Drones can be stationed in these areas for extended periods, conducting routine inspections and maintaining infrastructure surveillance. This continuous oversight is vital for upholding the efficiency and reliability of these energy systems.

spyder drone; source: dronehub.ai

Diagnostics of infrastructure in mines, refineries and power plants

Drones present an array of virtually boundless opportunities for inspecting objects within refineries, power plants, mines, and even drilling rigs.

Equipped with infrared cameras, drones have the capability to identify and quantify methane and natural gas leaks that are otherwise invisible to the human eye. This groundbreaking approach has been successfully employed by PGNiG, which harnessed the solutions offered by the Polish startup BZB UAS.

Furthermore, corporations can swiftly pinpoint areas susceptible to corrosion and take preemptive actions to avert costly and hazardous malfunctions by utilizing drones equipped with specialized sensors and cameras.

By employing unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with thermal imaging cameras, fluctuations in equipment temperatures can be detected, enabling the identification of potential failures. Real-time monitoring of machinery facilitates more efficient scheduling of maintenance, ultimately reducing downtime and enhancing overall operational efficiency.

Software DroneHub; source: dronehub.ai

In 2017, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa embraced drones for geodetic measurements and ground infrastructure monitoring. Enea and Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne were among the pioneers in the Polish market, utilizing drones to conduct aerial inspections of high-voltage lines.

RES infrastructure control

Vad Melnyk from Dronehub highlights that drones hold a pivotal role in the energy transition by contributing to the management and monitoring of emerging sustainable energy sources like wind farms and solar panels. By conducting routine inspections and continuous monitoring, drones aid in optimizing the efficiency of these systems and swiftly identifying potential issues.

Drones, especially in the realm of wind energy, offer precise diagnostics for wind turbine blades. This technology enables close proximity examination of the blades, revealing cracks or defects that might otherwise go unnoticed by other methods.

In the domain of solar energy, drones play a crucial role for solar farm management. They’re equipped with thermal imaging cameras to identify issues that are imperceptible to the naked eye. Inspectors can assess panel performance from a significant height, leading to efficient diagnostics and reduced evaluation times, even for expansive solar farms.

Notably, researchers in the UK employed UAVs to strategically position underwater tidal turbines. Drones captured footage of water movement, which was then analyzed using algorithms to determine water speed. These tests took place across varying weather conditions in Ramsey Sound, Wales, and the Pentland Firth, Scotland.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have ventured into less obvious segments of renewable energy sources as well. In biomass production, such as energy willow, drones offer swift insights into plant condition and daily activity cycles. They are also instrumental in assessing crop maturity and gauging damage resulting from factors like drought.

A full range of applications

Drones have made their mark in the construction of power infrastructure, including tasks like pulling high-voltage lines. They offer a cost-effective alternative to helicopters, streamlining the construction process while reducing expenses.

In the local market, a startup named Terra Hexen is noteworthy for its focus on detecting unauthorized drone presence in restricted areas, such as power plants. Collaborating with PGE Nowa Energia, the Terra Hexen team developed a wave jammer encompassing 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and GPS frequencies. This technology aids in identifying vulnerabilities in the security of specific zones.

Vad Melnyk underscores the versatility of drones, highlighting their compatibility with various drone manufacturers and their integration into existing systems. Recently, docking stations were integrated with an unmanned electric helicopter, marking a pioneering achievement in offering a fully autonomous long-range inspection solution. Vad also emphasizes the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain. AI-driven software has been developed to automate inspections of rail and high-voltage lines using drones. The focus now extends to full automation of inspection and surveillance in other sectors through drone technology.