RWE and Ampelmann carried out over 250 flights using cargo drones in a maintenance operation at Triton Knoll Wind Farm over a period of six weeks. This operation took place in August and September of this year and was part of a project with a capacity of 857 megawatts.
Cargo Transport with Drones
In this operation, over 9 tons of tools, spare parts, and safety equipment were transferred from a service vessel to the wind turbines. The drones delivered the cargo directly to the turbine nozzles and main access platforms, positioning the equipment on-site before the technicians arrived.
Reducing Time and Fuel Consumption
One of the advantages of this technology is the remote collection of cargo after maintenance tasks are completed, which reduces the need for staff to wait for traditional lifting operations. Individual loads of up to 80 kilograms are managed using an unmanned retrieval system, and software developed by Ampelmann has automated routine flights between the vessel and turbines. Although pilots remain in supervisory control, there is the possibility for intervention when needed.
RWE is exploring this technology as part of its service vessel logistics model and intends to take full responsibility for the maintenance of Triton Knoll Wind Farm in 2027.
According to Ampelmann, cargo drones can save over an hour of lifting time at each turbine and reduce reliance on vessel cranes by transferring parts directly to the nozzles before shifts begin, while also decreasing fuel consumption.
The Triton Knoll operation is notable for its scale. Instead of a few demonstration flights, the drones were fully integrated into daily marine maintenance over the six weeks, providing insight into how aerial logistics can increasingly assist service systems and ground-based working methods.
