Robots and drones now play a crucial role in the power utilities space as companies are increasingly using robotics to handle the inspection of risky, time-consuming, and hard-to-reach assets, as well as for improving maintainance and operation activities, according to GlobalData.

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The data and analytics firm’s latest report – entitled ‘Thematic research: Robotics in Power’ – explores how robots and drones have entered the power industry and are finding applications across various segments such as transmission and distribution (T&D), wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower and fossil fuels. Currently, there are three main use cases for robotics in utilities – inspection of assets, automated and remote maintenance, and the handling of nuclear materials. Those apply primarily to asset-heavy segments of the sector, including generation and T&D.

 

New source of data

 

“In addition to these established use cases, utilities are also likely to be indirectly influenced by a number of developments in the robotics arena in the longer term,” advises Sneha Susan Elias, Senior Power Analyst at GlobalData.

 

“For example, as robots and drones become more prevalent, they will provide a significant source of data for utilities, including mapping dangerous or inaccessible parts of utilities’ infrastructure that can then support training, planning, and maintenance.” 

 

New resource for renewables

 

Robots can also play a key role in the installation and set-up of technologies such as offshore wind and solar panels. For example, sailing robots can move wind turbines to the correct offshore locations and erect them, while automated cleaning solutions for solar PV panels are already being used by Alion Energy. 

 

Moreover, robots such as Atlas – produced by Boston Dynamics – are increasingly capable of conducting search and rescue in the field independently. This can be of great value to industries such as utilities in which staff often work in isolated and dangerous environments.

 

Drones dedicated to utilities 

 

“Many specialists have also come to the market with commercial drones aimed specifically at utilities and related industries such as R4 Robotics, ULC Robotics, and Hydro-Québec subsidiary MIR Innovation,” continues Ms Elias. 

 

“MIR has been at the forefront of designing robots for inspection of high-voltage power lines, and has developed a product called LineScout that serves as a robotic platform specifically designed for inspecting and carrying out maintenance activities for energised transmission lines. 

 

Advancing robotics in the sector

 

Announced in May 2019, a £4 million (US$5m) two-year innovate UK-funded Multi-Platform Inspection, Maintenance and Repair in Extreme Environments (MIMRee) project is advancing towards setting up a robotic team for offshore wind farm inspections. The project aims to demonstrate that operations and maintenance (O&M) on offshore wind farms can be carried out by crawling robots, autonomous vessels and aerial vehicles.

 

Another project by Innovate UK, CHIMERA – a semi-autonomous robotic platform for the inspection, repair and maintenance of internal pressure vessels – will be positioned into the internal pressure vessel without breaking containment through an innovative bolt on headworks. Pressure vessels are viewed as safety-critical infrastructure and find application in industries such as nuclear, oil & gas, and petrochemical.

 

“Utilities are increasingly getting involved in managing energy demand,” observes Ms Elias in closing. “As robots and drones become more prevalent – and industries such as logistics, retail, and leisure become more reliant on them – utilities will need to understand how the update of robots will influence electricity demand patterns, and what impact it may have on peak generation and distribution network requirements.”