Buss Energy Group has taken a stake in an Austrian drone outfit, enhancing its inspection services for offshore wind turbines.
Buss has taken a 24.9% stake in Aero Enterprise, which offers a comprehensive inspection service with a self-developed drone technology for onshore and offshore wind turbines.
Aero Enterprise, in Linz, has been operating inspection flights on onshore and offshore wind turbines with self-developed flying robots for seven years.
The drones are based on helicopter technology and can be used even at high wind speeds, making them suitable for offshore wind farm inspections, where weather conditions are harsher than on land.
In addition, Aero Enterprise has developed its drones to operate on long flight times, also making them suitable for offshore use.
Buss managing director Martin Schulz said: “The inspection by drone was the next logical step for us to complete our portfolio.
“We can offer our customers a highly professional analysis of their wind turbines.
“The technology creates predictability regarding necessary value retention measures to increase plant productivity. From our point of view, drones are the most efficient and leading technology for the exact documentation and evaluation of an inspection.”
High-resolution image data captured by the drones is evaluated by using Aero Enterprise’s in-house software.
Damage detection and classification is largely automated with the support of artificial intelligence.
Automatically generated reports enable efficient and objective reporting on the condition of the wind turbines and potential repairs needed, Aero Enterprise said.
In addition, the drones can provide exact comparative data from previous inspections.
Buss Energy Group had expanded its services last year by purchasing two companies and is active in port logistics in relation to offshore wind projects.
The company also carries out installation and operations and maintenance services for wind turbines and rotor blades in on and offshore wind markets in Germany and other parts of Europe.