Drones will inspect wind turbines in Tenerife: the Aerogenia project is testing autonomous flights
The ITER Institute is developing a drone-based system for the automated inspection of wind turbines to detect potential failures in a timely manner and increase the efficiency of renewable energy.
The Institute of Technology and Renewable Energy (ITER) is working on the Aerogenia project to better predict when wind turbines need maintenance.
Recently, the ITER team, along with scientists from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), tested a system that helps drones fly independently and inspect wind turbines.
According to the Tenerife Council, the drone successfully took off, flew along a predetermined route, and took pictures of the wind turbines. These photographs will then be used to find possible breakdowns.
In addition, ITER employees learned how to use the Aerostack2 system, which allows drones to fly independently. This will help them in the future to inspect wind farms and carry out timely maintenance.
Juan José Martínez, Innovation Advisor, noted that this project shows how Tenerife can be a leader in technological developments that make renewable energy more efficient and safer.
The main goal of the Aerogenia project is to create a system that would detect defects in wind turbines.
This project, managed by ITER together with the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and the University of Alcalá (UAH), is funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency and the European Union. The total budget of the project is 709,164.88 euros.