The global transition to renewable energy is creating a new type of energy infrastructure. Hydroelectric dams, solar farms and offshore wind farms are now competing with power stations that use fossil fuels to become the main energy source of the future. The offshore wind farm industry alone is expected to increase tenfold over the next decade and is on track to supply 20% of global energy by 2030.
All energy systems require continuous inspection and maintenance to ensure safe operation, and clean energy is no different. However, many of these renewable energy structures present new challenges for monitoring teams. Offshore wind farms in particular face a unique set of challenges, due to critical infrastructure being submerged in deep waters and subject to intense pressures from the sea.
The traditional method is to send a specialist dive team. This can be costly, time-consuming, and, most importantly, dangerous for the divers. As a result, operators are looking for alternative approaches that reduce the risk to life.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are unmanned submersible devices deployed from a boat and controlled remotely from the surface. They offer a safer and more cost-effective alternative for both routine operations and emergency investigation response.
Halma company Deep Trekker, based in Ontario, Canada, is one of the largest underwater robotics manufacturers in the world. Its submersible robots monitor and maintain critical underwater infrastructure, including offshore wind farms, without putting human life at risk.
Deep Trekker is not only helping support the global transition to clean energy but also plays a key role in the efforts to maintain the health of our marine environments. Their ROVs are used to examine the health of sea and plant life and detect changes in the underwater environment without having to send a diver into the water or risk contamination to the environment. It also enables ocean science and research by offering a cost-effective underwater research alternative.
