Heavy-Lift Drones Revolutionize Offshore Wind Farm Maintenance Efficiency

For the first time, heavy-lift cargo drones are revolutionizing maintenance operations at an offshore wind farm, reducing safety risks to personnel and machinery. Ørsted, a leader in sustainable energy, showcased a video of a drone capable of lifting 70 kg (over 220 lbs) at its Borssele 1 & 2 wind farm in the Dutch North Sea. These drones, with a wingspan of 2.6 meters, are larger and more powerful than previous trials conducted by Ørsted, including tests at the Hornsea 1 Offshore Wind Farm in the UK.

Located about 14 miles off the coast of Zeeland near the Netherlands – Belgium border, the Borssele wind farm was fully commissioned in late 2020. With 94 turbines and a capacity of 752 MW, it stands as the largest in the Netherlands and the second-largest operational wind farm. The current maintenance project involves updating critical evacuation and safety equipment in each turbine, with drones efficiently transporting the equipment from an offshore supply vessel to the nacelle tops in just four minutes.

Traditionally, maintenance tasks at offshore wind farms involved time-consuming processes, such as sailing to each turbine, using cranes to lift equipment boxes, and transferring them to the top of the turbine. This operation could take up to six hours per turbine. However, Ørsted’s innovative use of drones has significantly expedited these tasks at Borssele, completing them 10 to 15 times faster. The company continues to explore cutting-edge technologies to enhance its offshore wind operations, including optimizing monopile installation and deploying autonomous vessels for surveying.

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