Customised products

Challenge
In offshore wind turbine inspections and maintenance operations, technicians often need spare parts, tools, or smaller electrical components while working at the top of turbines. Traditionally, acquiring these supplies involves a time-consuming process that requires technicians to descend from the turbine to retrieve equipment delivered by a service vessel or transfer boat. This traditional method adds considerable time and costs for crews and vessels, incurs extra fuel expenses, and poses safety risks for turbine technicians.

Solution
To address this inefficiency, we propose a customised drone-based equipment transport system designed to facilitate the seamless transfer of essential items between a service vessel and a wind turbine along an adjustable route. Our ongoing development focuses on creating a tailored offshore package delivery system capable of transporting packages from a vessel directly to the nearest wind turbine. With a capacity to cover distances of up to 4 km and carry payloads weighing up to 5 kg, this innovative solution is set to revolutionize offshore maintenance logistics.

The potential cost savings afforded by this customised system are substantial, directly correlating with reduced turbine downtime, shorter technician wait times for spare parts and tools, and decreased operational expenses incurred by crews and fuel for service vessels. By minimizing the need for vessels to return to turbines for equipment delivery, the offshore package delivery system optimizes processes and significantly enhances the overall efficiency of offshore wind farm operations.

When considering scenarios where Upteko’s drone-based transport system replaces crew transfer/service vessels (CTVs) and helicopters, projections suggest potential savings between €1.7 and €5.5 million annually. These estimates are based on standard pricing models, downtime considerations, and the number of technicians typically involved in a given assignment, compared to the anticipated costs and downtime associated with implementing the drone-based transport system.

In Conclusion
The introduction of a customized offshore package delivery system marks a transformative step forward in offshore wind turbine maintenance logistics, promising substantial cost savings, enhanced operational efficiency, and improved safety for technicians. As we continue to develop and refine this cutting-edge solution, we anticipate a paradigm shift in executing offshore maintenance tasks, paving the way for a more sustainable and streamlined future in the renewable energy sector.