September 16, 2015 – A new report from Navigant Research takes a closer look at the global market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, for wind turbine blade inspection, including revenue forecasts by segment and region, through 2024.

According to Navigant Research, cumulative global revenue for wind turbine UAV sales and inspection services is expected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2024.

To inspect the blades of the more than 270,000 wind turbines operating globally, technicians have traditionally relied on binoculars and field scopes from the ground, or have scaled the turbines with the help of ropes or cables. Today, UAVs are providing a safer option, with the benefit of higher-resolution imaging, Navigant Research says.

The emerging wind turbine UAV market is driven by the “massive number of blades that need to be inspected for normal deterioration and for pre-end-of-warranty inspections”, according to the report. If uninspected, deterioration caused by the elements can result in reduced energy production and blade collapse.

The report, Drones for Wind Turbine Inspection, provides an analysis of the market dynamics, industry structure, and technological features driving the market for UAV hardware and inspection services. Global market forecasts for revenue, broken out by segment (multi-rotor UAVs and UAV inspection services) and region, extend through 2024.

The report also examines the key regional regulations related to UAVs, as well as the competitive landscape. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free on the Navigant Research website.

For more on drones, don’t miss UAVs 101 Webinar: Applications and Implications in Canada, presented by our sister publications, Wings Magazine and Helicopters Magazine.  

For just $25, join Eric Edwards, president of Montreal’s Xiphos Technologies and past chair of Unmanned Systems Canada, on Sept. 24, 2015 as he explores the impact UAVs will have on the Canadian commercial framework and the value they will bring to a wide variety of industries.