Drones in the Energy and Utility Sectors: functions, advantages, use cases

The introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is transforming conventional work scenarios in the energy and utility sectors. Drones are taking over infrastructure inspection and maintenance, remote substation monitoring, and employee safety control at utility or power facilities.

The use of UAVs in the energy industry and utility sector offers a more efficient, cost-effective, and safe method for managing extensive energy networks and other assets.

What we will discuss in this article:

Energy infrastructure management faces several significant challenges:

• Extensive and remote infrastructure

Electricity distribution networks often span hundreds of kilometers, including hard-to-reach areas. For instance, in India, the total length of power lines across all voltages is approximately 4.2 million kilometers. Tibet hosts the world's highest-altitude power line – the Qinghai-Tibet line. Its average altitude exceeds 4,500 meters, with extreme weather conditions (strong winds and low temperatures) and thin air affecting equipment operation.

• Safety risks

Traditional inspection methods expose workers to potential hazards such as falls and electric shocks. According to the International Labour Organization, 395 million workers worldwide suffer non-fatal occupational injuries annually.

Drones are fully autonomous: they launch and change batteries without human intervention, meaning they can be deployed even in emergency situations. This capability eliminates the need to put utility workers at risk.

• Labor-intensive processes

Manual inspections can be time-consuming, sometimes taking weeks or months to complete. Using drones, utility companies can inspect several thousand power transmission poles within a week, analyze their current condition, and develop a plan for addressing any deficiencies.

• High operational costs

Traditional inspection methods require significant labor, equipment utilization, and potential downtime expenses. Consequently, many utility companies inspect their infrastructure only once every few years. With the use of drones, inspections can be conducted on a weekly basis. The cost savings from drone utilization are also reflected in the fact that frequent inspections enable utility companies to prevent power grid failures by identifying defects at an early stage.

• Accuracy limitations

Human-conducted inspections can lead to errors or omissions. NERC data indicates that human errors, including incorrect personnel actions or accidental damage during construction work, are one of the main causes of power outages.

These issues have long concerned energy companies, affecting operational efficiency and safety standards.

Could this and other emergencies have been prevented using technological methods for critical infrastructure inspection? To answer this question, let's examine the capabilities of specialized drones for work in the energy and utility sectors.

UAVs equipped with advanced imaging technologies and sensors, can conduct detailed inspections of energy infrastructure without the need for physical access. This capability significantly reduces inspection time, enhances safety, and improves the accuracy of collected data.

Drones safely inspect high-rise towers and power transmission lines, capture high-quality images, and collect thermal data on the facility's infrastructure. Automated monitoring ensures that no malfunction or failure in the power grid goes unnoticed.

UAVs assist utility companies in conducting audits for regulatory compliance and standards adherence. This helps prevent power outages and grid failures caused by issues such as pole tilting.

Let's examine the capabilities of drones in more detail.

Remote inspections of electrical substations

Drones enable efficient remote monitoring of substations, reducing the need for on-site visits. High-resolution cameras and thermal sensors mounted on UAVs can detect issues such as overheating transformers, loose connections, or wildlife intrusions. This approach allows for regular inspections without disrupting operations or compromising personnel safety.

Specialized Microavia drones are also equipped with cameras featuring 30x optical zoom and thermal cameras with long-focus lenses. These capabilities enable the tracking of thermal signatures and identification of potential threats or equipment malfunctions even in poor visibility conditions, such as during dust storms, rain, or at night.

Aerial inspection of power transmission lines and and transmission tower

UAVs for power grid inspection offer significant advantages in maintaining transmission lines:

• Rapid coverage of extensive distances.
• Acquisition of detailed images of power lines, insulators, and other components.
• Detection of damaged insulators, conductor corrosion, and vegetation encroachment.
• Reduction of inspection time from weeks to days or hours.

These capabilities enable more thorough and cost-effective inspections compared to traditional methods.

How drones ensure utility worker safety

Worker safety is a top priority in the utility sector. Drones can significantly reduce risks by:

• Performing hazardous inspection tasks.
• Accessing hard-to-reach or dangerous locations.
• Obtaining detailed imagery without putting personnel at risk.
• Assessing potentially dangerous situations before human intervention.

These capabilities allow utility companies to prioritize employee safety while maintaining operational efficiency.

Utility asset management with Drone-in-a-box systems

Drones enhance the efficiency of managing extensive energy infrastructure networks through the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The data collected in this manner is suitable for automated analysis. Utility companies can receive this information in real-time and use it for inventory purposes and identifying equipment that requires maintenance or replacement. Additionally, drones assist in monitoring construction or modernization projects of power grids.

This level of detail and frequency in utility asset management enables more informed decision-making regarding maintenance, upgrades, and capital investments.

Emergency response and natural disaster recovery with UAVs

In the energy sector, infrastructure integrity is paramount for public safety. When power lines are compromised during natural disasters, access may be impeded by debris or hazardous conditions. UAVs can navigate these challenging environments, gathering essential data without endangering human lives.

This capability is invaluable for both initial assessment and continuous monitoring throughout the restoration process. The information collected by drones can be analyzed to comprehensively evaluate damage patterns and identify vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure.

In crisis situations, UAVs offer several strategic advantages:

• Swift deployment for damage evaluation.
• Prioritization of critical areas.
• Strategic guidance for response teams.
• Real-time situational awareness.

Leveraging these capabilities can substantially minimize downtime and expedite recovery efforts following catastrophic events, ultimately enhancing operational resilience and stakeholder value.

To learn more about how drones are utilized during emergencies and how they assist in combating the aftermath of natural disasters, we have provided a detailed account in this article.

Let's look at the characteristics of a specialized Drones for Energy Industry by Microavia as an example:

Autonomous system

The drone from Microavia is an autonomous robotic system. No operator is required to work with it. The battery replacement is robotic, so the drone can operate 24/7. But there is also the possibility of manually controlling the drone.

Operation in any conditions

It is important to choose equipment suitable for their specific climate and landscape. Microavia drones have been tested in real-world conditions ranging from -20°C to +50°C.

Extended range and long flight time

The Microavia drone is always ready for a 45-minute continuous mission. Automatic battery replacement takes only 90 seconds, allowing the flight to last for hours.

Powerful long-range detection

• Zoom camera with 30x optical zoom: detect and visually confirm objects from a great distance with high-definition clarity.
• Long-focus thermal camera: track heat signatures and spot potential threats or equipment malfunctions even in low visibility conditions like dust storms, rain, or nighttime.
• Infrared cameras detect heat signatures, enabling the identification of overheating components in substations, «Hot spots» on power lines indicating potential faults and malfunctioning solar panels in renewable energy installations.

With cutting-edge zoom optics and thermal vision, nothing escapes the cameras' attention. Day or night, thermal cameras reveal what others can’t.

AI and Machine Learning integration

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with drone technology significantly enhances the value proposition for the utility sector:

• Automatic fault detection. AI algorithms analyze drone-captured imagery to identify issues such as damaged insulators, corroded components, or vegetation encroachment with high accuracy.
• Predictive maintenance. Machine learning models, trained on historical data, can predict potential equipment failures, enabling proactive maintenance scheduling.
• Change detection. AI-powered systems compare current imagery with historical data to automatically detect and flag changes in infrastructure conditions.
• Efficiency optimization. Machine learning algorithms optimize drone flight paths and inspection schedules, maximizing resource utilization.

These AI-driven capabilities transform raw data into actionable insights, enabling more informed decision-making and resource allocation.

Real-time data transmission and analytics

The ability to transmit and analyze data in real time allows you to instantly identify critical problems and quickly respond to possible failures. Real-time data can be automatically transferred to existing management systems, ensuring up-to-date data on the state of the infrastructure and optimizing the workflow. This feature transforms drone inspections from periodic events into continuous monitoring processes, increasing the overall reliability and efficiency of the power grid.

The combination of these technologies with traditional visual inspections provides a comprehensive view of infrastructure health, enhancing maintenance strategies and asset longevity.

Integration with existing utility management systems

For maximum benefit, drone programs should be integrated with existing utility management systems. Let's look at the recommendations for the introduction of drones from Ivan Ivanov, a Microavia specialist.

4 steps to effectively integrate drones into your workflows:

1. Data Integration. Ensure drone-collected data can be seamlessly integrated into existing asset management and GIS systems.
2. Workflow Integration. Incorporate drone inspections into standard maintenance and inspection workflows.
3. Reporting Systems. Develop standardized reporting systems that combine drone data with other inspection and maintenance data.
4. Cross-departmental Collaboration. Foster collaboration between drone teams, maintenance crews, and asset management departments to ensure effective use of drone-derived insights.

Proper integration maximizes the value of drone technology by enhancing existing processes rather than creating parallel systems.

Implementing a drone program requires initial capital expenditure, but offers significant long-term cost benefits:

Drone technology significantly enhances operational efficiency:

Faster inspections. Drones can inspect power lines at a rate of 65 km/h.

Reduced planned outages. More efficient inspections mean less frequent and shorter planned outages for maintenance.

Quicker emergency response. Drones can be deployed rapidly in emergencies, reducing assessment time and accelerating repairs.

Predictive maintenance. AI-driven analysis of drone data enables predictive maintenance, preventing unexpected failures and associated downtime.

Implementing drone technology in power line inspections significantly mitigates risks and enhances operational safety:

• Workplace accident reduction. UAVs minimize personnel exposure to high-risk environments, such as elevated structures and high-voltage equipment, substantially decreasing the potential for falls and electrocution incidents.
• Proactive hazard identification. Advanced aerial surveillance enables the detection of potential threats prior to deploying ground crews, thereby strengthening overall safety protocols.
• Insurance cost optimization. Improved safety performance metrics can lead to more favorable insurance terms, potentially reducing premiums for utility enterprises.
• Environmental impact mitigation. Precision aerial inspections in ecologically sensitive zones minimize disturbances, thus reducing the likelihood of environmental damage claims.

This strategic integration of drone technology not only safeguards human capital but also optimizes operational efficiency and financial performance, aligning with the risk management priorities of energy sector executives.