Applus+ teams up with start-up Alerion to inspect wind turbines using AI
17/08/2023
Applus+ has agreed with start-up Alerion to offer advanced inspection solutions for the renewable energy market, particularly wind energy. The service developed uses autonomous drones designed with state-of-the-art technology to minimise infrastructure downtime during the inspection, helping to improve the reliability and profitability of onshore and offshore wind farms.
Corporate venturing programmes are helping to develop cutting-edge technological solutions by combining the innovative capacity of start-ups with the market access and financial power of large companies. Applus+, a leading multinational in the inspection, testing and certification sector, is leveraging its corporate venturing programme Applus+ Ventures for collaboration opportunities.
These partnerships are focused on start-ups linked to energy transition, connectivity, electrification and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, among others.
Alerion was born within the ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA-BICs) programme to transfer space navigation technology to drones. Due to its proprietary and patented 100% autonomous navigation technology, the drones are flown to inspect wind infrastructures by surveying wind turbines and ensuring their safety. They can capture all necessary information in just 10-15 minutes, ultimately reducing wind turbine downtime and maximising the quality of the data, which is collected automatically.
The drones are specifically designed for these inspections and are equipped with different technologies, such as high-definition cameras and infrared or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) equipment. The service as a whole is adaptable to the needs and requirements of each client and allows wind farm owners and operators to access all of the information stored in the cloud in order to carry out improvement and maintenance tasks. Alerion has already performed more than 1000 successful inspections of onshore and offshore wind farms in more than 14 countries, conducting annual recurring maintenance inspection campaigns as well as end-of-warranty surveys.
The drone service is just one example of the disruptive solutions that Applus+ Ventures is able to develop, combining cutting-edge technology with the international reach of large corporations, allowing key developments to spread across the globe and impact the industry on a large scale by offering technical, strategic and financial support and a solid reputation in environmental, social and governance (ESG).
By collaborating with enterprises with multidisciplinary profiles, such as technology companies, universities, start-ups and innovation centres, Applus+ can anticipate market demands and help create a more sustainable world as a result of new technologies and business models.
