TÜV NORD verifiziert erstmals Drohnensystem zur Inspektion von Windenergieanlagen
Energy: German wind technology receives test certificate according to new standard.
Energy: German wind technology receives test certificate according to new standard.
Wind turbines are increasingly being inspected with the help of drones, particularly with regard to the lightning protection system and possible damage to the rotor blades. TÜV NORD uses its own standard to check whether these drone-based procedures deliver what they promise. The first verification has now been completed and the conformity assessment handed over to Deutsche Windtechnik.
TÜV NORD has completed the verification of a drone system for Deutsche Windtechnik for the first time. The conformity assessment of this successful verification was handed over on September 26, 2024 at the WindEnergy trade fair in Hamburg. Deutsche Windtechnik's technology was already validated in February. Validation was also completed for the start-up OMI Innovation; verification will follow shortly.
“Put simply, in our conformity assessment we examine whether a system or process works as the manufacturer promises. We differentiate between validation and verification: validation assesses whether the intended use, i.e. future use, is plausible. During verification, we check whether the manufacturer's statements have been true in retrospect and whether the desired results have been achieved in practice,” explains Michael Lange, Head of the Validation and Verification Body for Wind Energy at TÜV NORD.
In the specific project for Deutsche Windtechnik, TÜV NORD evaluated the methods used to detect damage to the rotor blades or the lightning protection system of the wind turbines. As part of the annual inspection, Deutsche Windtechnik's independent inspection body prepares a risk analysis that determines what can be flown over using a drone and where additional rope access technology must be used. The aim is to detect damage, such as erosion or cracks, which can be caused by wind and weather, bird strikes or lightning strikes, for example. Every two or, with a maintenance contract, every four years, a recurring inspection by an approved inspection body such as TÜV NORD is also required; drones are now often used for an initial condition assessment here too.
The market for drone-based inspections is growing and there are now numerous providers on the market - both established maintenance companies and many newly founded start-ups. “Inspection with drones is becoming a central component of many inspection concepts,” says wind energy expert Michael Lange.
As there was previously no standard specifying how procedures for inspection with drones can be assessed, TÜV NORD has developed a corresponding standard. This means that conformity assessments can now be issued for the first time, both validations and verifications. The TÜV NORD standard TN-P-V01-001 is based on the requirements of the ISO 17029 standard, which defines the work of verification and validation bodies. “On the basis of our standard, we can also check statements on digital optimization tools, measurement systems or mechanical attachments for wind turbines to see whether they are plausible and truthful,” adds Michael Lange.
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