New Vestas business provides automated blade leading edge maintenance solution

Renewable energy company Vestas (Aarhus, Denmark) announced in a December press release that it has launched BladeRobots, a new standalone business with an automated robotic technology solution that will enable more efficient and scalable blade leading edge maintenance for wind turbines.

Erosion — caused by small, airborne particles of ice, snow and rain — is a common issue for wind turbine blades, wearing the outer surface and ultimately reducing a blade’s aerodynamics. Maintenance is often performed manually.

Alternately, the wireless, automated BladeRobots system by Vesta can be fitted horizontally onto the blade, using artificial intelligence to complete every stage of the maintenance process in one go. Vestas claims that the robotic solution is capable of adapting to all types of wind blades, offering availability on multi-brand applications, in addition to safety and quality for technicians involved. Moreover, it has been reported that BladeRobots provides maintenance up to four times faster than traditional manual methods.

“Wind energy will play an increasingly central role in the global energy system, and it is key that we deliver optimal efficiency throughout the operational life of wind turbines,” Johnny Thomsen, chairman of BladeRobots and former co-chief executive of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, says. “With BladeRobots’automized robotic solution, the wind industry has a new effective and scalable solution to improve wind turbine performance.”