Drones are an increasingly important part of offshore wind safety

In August Danish wind power giant Ørsted trialled the use of drones in a heavy-lift cargo capacity at the Borssele wind farm in the Netherlands.

The drones will be used to lift cargo from a vessel to one of the 94 wind turbines based at the wind farm.

The drones – which weigh up to 70 kilos – will be transporting cargo of up to 100 kilos after the concept was previously tested at the Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm.

Last October drones were used at the Hornsea offshore asset to transport cargo, preventing the need for vessels to sail directly to wind turbines.

At the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm in Scotland, drones have been deployed for inspection purposes, using high-resolution cameras to identify structural issues such as cracks, corrosion, and paint erosion, which are difficult and risky to detect through traditional methods.

Their ability to operate in harsh weather conditions and dynamic environments makes them indispensable in maintaining floating turbines. Across these examples, drones are enhancing worker safety by reducing the need for technicians to climb turbines or board vessels in rough seas, improving the accuracy of inspections with advanced imaging technology, and streamlining cargo delivery processes to ensure faster, safer, and more efficient offshore wind operations.

As these technologies continue to evolve, drones are set to play an even larger role in the offshore wind industry, driving improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability.