RES snaps up turbine blade inspection firm Sulzer Schmid

Independent renewable energy developer RES Group unveiled today the acquisition for an undisclosed amount of Sulzer & Schmid Laboratories AG, a Switzerland-based provider of autonomous drone inspection and condition monitoring of wind turbine blades.

Sulzer Schmid’s proprietary 3DX Blade Platform uses autonomous drones and software to provide 100% coverage and analytics. It gives users insights that can define blade repair work and schedule preventive measures. The company, which was set up in 2016, has carried out 100 GW of inspections and serviced more than 50 GW of turbines.

Apart from strengthening the performance of blade assets, the investment will also bolster RES’ overall expertise in smart, data-driven operations and maintenance (O&M) amidst growing customer demand in digital solutions and services.

“Digital innovations in the renewable energy industry are a key enabler of the global energy transition, helping scale infrastructure build-out quickly and efficiently, alongside maximising production from operating assets. By providing our customers with Sulzer Schmid’s digital solutions we can reduce inspection time and costs whilst enhancing data accuracy, actionable insights and safety, making it a game-changer in the energy industry,” said RES’ chief executive Eduardo Medina.

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