“You are not only saving time but also money,” said Sven Bender, key account manager at Innogy, Germany’s second-largest energy group by market value, adding that the use of drones in the industry would pick up further in the coming years.However, the future of these flying robots in the utility sector hinges on regulation. They have also recently started occasionally using more basic drones that stay within sight of controllers and have a range of only about 500 meters. Out-of-sight droning is set to be the next frontier for grid operators with their miles of pipes and pylons to inspect.It was a tree too close to high tension power lines at the Italian-Swiss border that led to Italy’s most extensive blackout in 2003 triggering a chain reaction across the grid experts say could have been averted with drone technology.
Utilities in Europe are looking to long-distance drones to scour thousands of miles of grids for damage and China Power Cords leaks in an attempt to avoid network failures that cost them billions of dollars a year.8 million euros (5. Companies have only started using in-sight drones over about the past two years.REGULATORY RISKSThe growing demand from utilities is coming at a time of swift technological advances in civilian long-distance drones. However, the technology faces major safety and regulatory hurdles that are clouding its future in the sector.”. The company said it would invest 4. The new regulations should make it simpler for companies that need to operate BVLOS drones to receive clearance, the source said.“We’ve identified that it can save as much as 180 for every mile of data capture when compared with traditional methods,” said Michael Chasen, CEO of drone maker PrecisionHawk.However, an industry-wide shift toward renewable energy and the need to monitor the myriad extra connections needed to link solar and wind parks to grids, is forcing utilities to look at the advanced technology.