Scope Overview

Equinor required a scalable inspection approach to monitor and maintain the condition of their offshore wind assets across UK waters, covering 160 turbines and 3 offshore substations.

The Challenge

Previous inspection methods were inconsistent and time consuming, with varying data quality that limited confidence in long term maintenance planning and year on year comparison.

• Inconsistent manual inspections, causing variable data quality.

• Difficulty comparing year-on-year damage progression.

• Large portfolio of assets requiring a scalable approach and consistent actionable data.

The Solution

Innovair has been awarded a 3 year contract to deliver full external blade and structural inspections across Equinor’s offshore wind portfolio using advanced UAV technology and payloads.

Key details:

• Two person offshore inspection team operating UAVs from CTV or SOV deck space.

• Autonomous flight paths ensuring full blade coverage and repeatable datasets.

• High-res drone imagery of hub, nacelle, tower, foundations and offshore substations.

• Offshore capable drone system operating inwinds up to 12m/s and 1.5m/s sea state.

The Results

• Up to 8 turbines inspected per day, covering all blades, hub, nacelle, tower and foundations to deliver full asset visibility.

• High resolution imagery captured for everyturbine and offshore substation, creating a detailed permanent condition record.

• Expert review and defect classification completed by Innovair Engineers, ensuring accurate and consistent assessment.

• Condition trends tracked via Discovair™ interactive cloud platform, enabling clear comparison over time and across sites.

Want more information?

Download the full case study to learn how Innovair’s offshore drone operations delivered safe, efficient, and high-quality inspection results while reducing risk and supporting proactive maintenance planning.