OPAL

The purpose of the project is to develop and test concepts for ship-to-mill and land-to-mill transport of various goods by drones. Work is being done on transporting goods over short distances and at low weights (up to 10 kg), and transport over longer distances with greater weights (up to 30 kg). The concept will streamline logistics in both the installation and service phases and contribute to cost reduction.

Challenge

Most service tasks associated with offshore wind turbines are performed in the nacelle, which houses the offshore wind turbine’s generator, gearbox, braking mechanism, and other components. When a service technician works in the nacelle of a wind turbine, there may be a need for deliveries of additional equipment that the technician lacks. This equipment might include bolts, nuts, or special tools. In some cases, they can be delivered from the service ship that follows the technician at sea. Installation and service of offshore wind turbines therefore requires extensive logistics and transport of goods that is currently sent out on CTVs or SOVs and must be hoisted up by crane or lifted by technicians up to the nacelle. It is an expensive, slow and inflexible solution, and there is room for optimisation in cost, timing, and safety.

Solution idea

For offshore wind farms with an attached SOV, the cargo of smaller components (up to 10 kg) from the deck to the nacelle can be handled by a drone system that makes fast but short flights. For wind farms that primarily use CTVs, the transport of larger goods (up to 40 kg) from land to the nacelle can be handled by a larger drone system that can handle longer routes. This system can be combined with helicopter service for the transport of technicians; thus, SOVs and CTVs may be taken out of wind turbine service in a future scenario.