Ørsted to trial drones for carrying parts to offshore wind farms

Danish clean energy group Ørsted (CPH:ORSTED) today said that together with compatriot transport and logistics company DSV it will test using long-distance drones to transport spare parts and tools at Anholt offshore wind farm in the Kattegat offshore Denmark.

The trial is part of Ørsted’s efforts to optimise wind farm availability and lower carbon emissions from service logistics as it aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

Cargo drones can reduce the need for transport by ship and make quick deliveries if technicians find that special spare parts, especially small parts, are needed for repairs.

“The drones are powered by renewable electricity and will fly autonomously to the offshore substation, but we’re hoping to test the drones on flights to the wind turbines at a later stage,” explained Klaus Baggesen Hilger, head of operations digital and innovation at Ørsted.

The test flights will be conducted over two weeks and will demonstrate the ability of the drone to deliver components from Ørsted’s operations base at the Port of Grenaa to the substation 25 km (15.5 miles) away from shore and possibly to the wind turbines. The drone will have a payload capacity of 2.5 kg.

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