Drone-based inspections
Consistency and regularity are the foundations of success. If that success is defined as optimizing blade maintenance costs through annual reviews, then drone inspections are the ideal tool to achieve it. Systematic monitoring of technical conditions allows not only for a rapid response but, more importantly, for planning repair budgets well in advance. On the scale of an entire wind farm, this generates massive savings.
As of 2025, we have expanded our portfolio to include this option. While the market has been familiar with this solution for years, we previously had significant reservations regarding its quality. As practitioners with years of experience, we have frequently analyzed reports provided by external companies, and they rarely met our professional standards. We encountered blurry images that made it nearly impossible to identify the type of damage or categorize it correctly. For a technician, such a photo is worthless because they still have to physically access the blade to verify what “might” be in the picture.
It may seem trivial, but we even encountered cases where blade numbers were completely mixed up compared to the actual state. This creates logistical chaos and makes the repair decision process inefficient. A numbering error in a report isn't just a paperwork mistake-it is a real risk of sending a service team to the wrong location.
The Expertise Gap
The primary issue in the market was that inspections were often carried out by individuals with no experience in blade repair. Although they were skilled drone operators capable of flying safely, they lacked the technical knowledge necessary to effectively locate damage. This lack of substantive preparation translated directly into low-quality reports that overlooked critical defects.
There are currently two main trends in drone inspections on the market:
- Manual Inspections: The operator flies the drone and searches for damage in real-time. This allows for great flexibility and the ability to examine a specific flaw from various angles-provided the operator knows what they are looking for.
- Algorithmic / Automated Inspections: A pre-programmed drone autonomously flies around all blades, taking thousands of photos which are then analyzed by AI to generate a report. While fast, this method often generates hundreds of “false positives” or misses subtle structural damage.
Our Approach: Expert-Led Precision
By taking matters into our own hands, we have focused on combining the two most important elements: advanced equipment producing the highest possible image quality and the operator's hands-on experience in blade repair. In our company, a drone is not just a gadget-it is a precision tool in the hands of an expert.
Our 15 years of experience working with damage allows for 99% accuracy in assessing discovered defects. We know what the onset of delamination looks like; we know how to distinguish a gelcoat crack from structural damage and exactly what to look for on the leading edge. As a result, our clients receive a report that serves as a ready-to-use action plan rather than a collection of random photos. This method, combined with the operator's professionalism, allows for the inspection of up to 5 turbines per day.
Professional Equipment
We perform inspections using a professional DJI Matrice 30T. This is a powerful tool equipped with advanced sensors that allow us to work efficiently even in demanding conditions, providing resolution high enough to detect the smallest scratches. By choosing our service, you gain the certainty that your turbines are being assessed by people who know these blades inside out.
In our company, a drone is not just a gadget-it is a precision tool in the hands of an expert.
