The maintenance and inspection of wind turbines represents one of the biggest operational challenges for EDP. Manual inspections are complex and expensive and present significant risks to the technicians involved. In addition, ensuring maximum operational efficiency of turbines requires new approaches that allow problems to be identified before they become critical.
By making use of advanced inspection robotic systems, it is expected to reduce costs, minimize risks to workers and increase the effectiveness of predictive maintenance, ensuring greater availability and performance of wind assets.
Partnership and Collaboration
Bladebug participated in the 2023 edition of the Free Electrons program, an open innovation program co-founded by EDP that connects promising startups with leaders in the energy sector. Since then, the collaboration has been close, with Bladebug working directly with EDP's business units and innovation teams to develop and validate its technology in the real-world conditions of EDP's wind farms.
In late June 2024, EDP Innovation and EDP Renewables executed a pilot project with BladeBUG, which uses advanced robotic systems to inspect wind turbine blades without the need for rope access.
Over two days of work at Parque Sierra el Boquerón in Albacete, Spain, the team performed non-destructive testing inspections (Phased array) as well as functional inspections (Light protection systems tests).
The partnership with Bladebug exemplifies EDP's open innovation model, which constantly seeks new technologies and solutions to face the challenges of the energy transition. This project not only strengthens EDP's position as a pioneer in renewable energy, but also contributes significantly to a greener and more sustainable future.
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