IKM Ocean Team Participated as a Finalist in the OAA for Our 3rd Generation SCCO2 Technology

“Our drones fly at night with heat-sensitive cameras to detect leaks in underground district heating pipes. By identifying and repairing these leaks, utilities save large amounts of water, energy, and CO₂,” says Henrik Grosen, CEO of Drone Systems.

“Until now, our capacity has matched the Danish market, where we already inspect pipelines for half of all district heating plants, including several of the largest. We also serve customers in the UK and Norway, and interest in Germany is rapidly increasing,” he adds.

To meet that demand, Drone Systems has acquired Scandinavian Drone Solutions and appointed its director Jens Rahbæk as COO. Rahbæk is an experienced drone pilot and recognized expert in European airspace regulations.

“Useful drones should not be confused with illegal flights”

Recent reports of unauthorized drone flights over Danish airports have caused concern, but Drone Systems is not worried about long-term effects.

“It’s exactly at night and near infrastructure that we operate — legally — to perform socially valuable work,” explains Sune Yde Nielsen, CTO.

“We always hold the necessary authorizations and inform the Danish Transport Authority, the Police, and/or the Armed Forces before every mission.

Our operators are always visible and on-site. If citizens see us working, they can simply ask. We’ve flown safely for ten years without issues.”

Thermal data turned into insight

Drone Systems delivers complete, high-precision thermal surveys of district heating networks. The collected data is processed and presented via a cloud-based platform, identifying both existing leaks and potential future risks.

As a first mover in Denmark, Drone Systems continues to lead in data quality, precision, and usability. Each operation is meticulously planned — often in cooperation with authorities — with safety as a top priority.

33,675 km mapped – 2,375 leaks found

District heating networks are valuable but difficult to inspect. Leaks are costly yet hidden underground. Drone Systems’ technology ensures 100% coverage and pinpoints leaks with sub-meter accuracy.

In ten years, the company has:

• surveyed over 33,675 km of pipelines,
• located more than 2,375 leaks, and
• identified 9,150 early-stage heat losses.

By mapping the real network, Drone Systems helps utilities correct outdated records, target repairs, and reduce both costs and emissions.

About Drone Systems

“Our idea is to create a day where the entire health and safety organization can participate together. This way, colleagues get a shared starting point and can bring new knowledge and inspiration back to their everyday work,” says Sanne Kristensen, speaker and one of the event organizers.

A real need in workplaces

The topic is highly relevant. According to ArbejdsmiljøEksperten, many companies are experiencing challenges with collaboration or have a desire to improve employee well-being.

“We’re seeing strong demand for exactly this focus when we run mandatory health and safety training. That’s why it makes sense to offer a full day dedicated to practical tools and inspiration,” says Kristensen.

Psychological mechanisms at play

One of the day’s keynote speakers is Bent Würsching, who has over three decades of experience with mental health in the workplace. He will introduce participants to concepts like the Pygmalion Effect and Negativity Bias – two psychological mechanisms that have a major impact on collaboration, communication, and job satisfaction.

Certificate for participants

AMO Day can be registered as supplementary occupational health and safety training, and all participants will receive a certificate. Registration is still open.

AAU COLLABORATE is your opportunity to meet students from Aalborg University for an informal chat and to recruit from a wide range of students.

The fair is for all types of companies that are interested in hiring or collaborating with AAU students — for example, in academically relevant student jobs, project-based internships, project collaborations, full-time jobs, or graduate programs.

Participation with a booth is free, and the event is marketed to all study programs and semesters at AAU in Aalborg. We expect up to 70 companies and 1,000 students to participate.

How can we ensure that the green energy transition becomes a shared project – where citizens are not merely spectators, but active co-creators?

On 2 October, MissionGreenFuels invites you to an exclusive event where research meets practice.

Professor Simon Lex and colleagues from the University of Copenhagen will present the results of two years of research on citizen participation, democratic ownership, and a just energy transition – based on more than 200 interviews. In addition, municipalities, civil society, and companies will share their experiences in shaping future energy solutions. The day will conclude with a joint workshop, transforming insights into new ideas for democratic engagement in the green transition.

📅 Thursday, 2 October, 09:30–15:30
📍 Østergade 10, 8000 Aarhus, Scandic Aarhus City
🔗 Registration deadline: 17 September