UAV development and impact in the power system

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, in the energy sector is at the beginning, with many companies still unsure about the value the drones could bring to their operations. But this market segment is fast-growing with a potentially bright future. Drones can improve efficiency, speed, safety and cost from the design, pre-construction and development stages through to commissioning and ongoing maintenance. The main applications for drones can be in: asset inventory, construction and repairs, maintenance management, emissions monitoring, solar and wind power inspections, inspection of power lines and component parts. Energy transmission and distribution networks are strategic assets that need a rigorous maintenance strategy to maintain their reliability, availability and sustainability. While numerous tools and methods already exist for power line inspection and maintenance tasks, the UAV's are slowly proving that they offer a practical and valuable approach. This paper presents the regulatory framework, the main applications in the electropower system and the safety and security concerns related to the use of drones.