RWE's 857MW UK Offshore Wind Farm Completes Over 250 Drone O&M Transport Flights

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 28, RWE and offshore operations equipment company Ampelmann completed a six-week heavy-lift drone logistics operation at the 857MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm in the UK. Between August and September, the two parties carried out more than 250 drone flights in total, transporting over 9 tonnes of tools, spare parts and safety equipment between the service operation vessel (SOV) and the wind turbines.

The drones can deliver cargo directly to the turbine nacelle and the main access platform, pre-positioning maintenance tools and components before technicians board; after repairs are completed, the equipment can also be retrieved remotely. A single flight can carry a maximum payload of up to 80 kilograms, and the unmanned pick-and-place system developed by Ampelmann is capable of attaching and releasing cargo without the need for on-site manual operation.

Ampelmann also configured automatic flight control software for this operation, which can automate control of routine transport routes between the service operation vessel and the wind turbines, while pilots retain oversight and manual intervention authority. The company has also integrated the drone, winch and pick-up hook into a single automated cargo handling system to reduce the need for conventional crane lifting operations.

RWE plans to fully take over maintenance work at the Triton Knoll wind farm in 2027 and is currently assessing the feasibility of incorporating heavy-lift drones into the service operation vessel logistics system. Ampelmann estimates that by delivering spare parts directly to the nacelle before maintenance shifts begin, more than 1 hour of lifting time can be saved per turbine, while also reducing demand for the vessel's crane.

This operation was not a one-off demonstration, but was embedded in routine offshore wind maintenance processes for six consecutive weeks. Triton Knoll has an installed capacity of 857MW, and this round of drone missions mainly verified the continuous operational capability of heavy-lift drones in turbine spare parts transport, pre-maintenance delivery and post-repair material retrieval.