Danish outfit Wind Power Lab has developed an inspection method and concept for internal blade inspections at offshore wind farms.
Trials were recently executed at both a factory site and on an operational 3.6MW offshore wind turbine in collaboration with Orsted.
The technology enables data sets captured from internal blade inspections with drones to be used to identify blade defects only visible on the inside of a wind turbine blade, Wind Power Lab said.
The data collected by the drones will also enable accurate positioning of each defect.
This will help to compare defects across portfolio and support blade specialists in their defect assessment, Wind Power Lab said.
Wind Power Lab has designed its technology to limit the number of confined manual space blade inspections undertaken by technicians and also extend checks further within the blade.
At the same time, inspection time is reduced so other inspection work can be carried out while personnel are mobilised on the same turbine.
Wind Power Lab chief executive Anders Ropke said: “Combining hardware and software solutions to solve challenges in offshore wind is our main goal. We are pleased to be key partner in this project, delivering on industry-critical optimisation projects.”