Across the North Sea: Sailing drones operated from Aberdeen keep Vattenfall’s Dutch wind farm safe

Carrying out maintenance inspections on wind turbines can be challenging, as they are located miles offshore in the open sea where conditions can be very rough. Traditional inspection methods, such as the use of manned vessels and divers, can pose safety risks to colleagues. They also use a lot of fuel.

As a solution, unmanned ships and remotely controlled vehicles are being used at HKZ, in partnership with Fugro. The sailing drones can also be controlled from a central location far away - in this case Aberdeen - meaning wind farm operators can carry out these operations more efficiently .They reduce safety risks for employees, identify and solve problems faster and use less fuel as they run off electricity which reduces costs and emissions associated with the operation. 

Various pilots have shown that the unmanned vessels are emitting 95% less CO2 compared to traditional research vessels. They are also smaller, which means they have less impact on marine life.  

The vessels are 12 meters long and equipped with an electric remote-controlled robot. The ships and drones use the latest technologies like advanced sensors, sonar and high-definition cameras to collect real-time data, for example on the condition of cables and foundations.

They also operate 24/7, in conditions up to wind force five (19 knots) and can handle wave heights up to 1.5 meters - this means quicker inspections, fewer unexpected failures and ultimately more stable energy production.

Samuel Gardner, Operations and Maintenance at HKZ said: 

“The innovative approach at the HKZ wind farm is in line with Vattenfall's ambitions in the field of sustainability and creating the safest possible working environment. We are proud to be at the forefront of sustainable innovations that advance offshore wind energy and enable stable electricity production. Together with our partners, we will continue to work on technologies that contribute to a future in which we are less dependent on the use of fossil fuels."

About HKZ

The Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm has 139 wind turbines and is located about 20 kilometres off the coast of The Hague and Zandvoort. The turbine furthest from the coast is 36 kilometres away. The wind farm is owned by Vattenfall, BASF and Allianz and has a capacity of approximately 1.5 GW. This corresponds to the annual energy consumption of more than 1.5 million Dutch households. You can find out more about HKZ here.