How drones are changing inspections of the Swedish electricity grid
Developments in drone technology and AI are moving fast and creating new opportunities in many industries – including the electricity and energy sector. By using these technologies, Vattenfall Services Nordic can streamline both inspections and maintenance, resulting in improved safety and less environmental impact. At the same time, innovation and automation pave the way for even smarter solutions in the future.
In the past, the inspection of power lines, electrical components with appliances and other infrastructure has required risky and time-consuming labour practices, These include maintenance engineers climbing poles and pylons or observing them with binoculars on foot patrols or from helicopters. With drone technology, this has changed – now large areas can be monitored faster, more accurately and in a safer and more environmentally friendly way. Anders Söderberg, Head of Department and Internal Trainer for Remote Pilots at Vattenfall Services, explains:
— The use of drones significantly improves quality, safety, the natural environment and the working environment. In terms of physical and safety improvement measures, it is very much about reducing the risk of accidents caused by climbing and patrolling, such as trips, falls or abrasions.
A large-scale expansion
As early as 2015, Vattenfall started using drones to collect topographical data for planning models. Around 2017, the use accelerated as drones started to be used for nuclear power inspections, boiler inspections, etc.
— In 2019, we started scaling up deployment, and by then we had around 40 remote pilots. Now, in 2025, we have around 500 pilots who use drones to lesser or greater extent in their work, says Söderberg.
Anders Lindström, Product Owner and Team Leader for Digital Inspections at Vattenfall, and a colleague of Anders Söderberg in R&D, explains that the development is driven by three factors:
— The safety of our employees and our contractors. The quality of the data we collect, and efficiency. We want to be able to inspect, monitor and collect information in a safer way.
Higher quality, less environmental impact
Drones are used in several areas. These include inspecting appliances and power lines, installing bird scarers, powerline stringing, and performing thermography – an infrared method of measuring and visualising temperature changes on surfaces and components.
Drone technology not only makes work smoother and more efficient; it also reduces environmental impact and benefits biodiversity. One example is the inspection of 80 kilometres of road, which used to be done by helicopter but can now be done by drone. A solution that saves around 800 kilos of CO2 emissions.
— By using drones instead of helicopters, we reduce our environmental impact while improving the quality of inspections, which in turn increases the reliability of pipelines. Drones can detect more anomalies than helicopter inspections, resulting in even greater precision and better results, Anders Söderberg explains.
— It has also proven to be beneficial for biodiversity. Being able to mount bird scarers directly on the wires has greatly reduced the number of birds flying into them, he adds.
Automated high-precision inspections
The trend is towards even more automated and self-driving flight inspections, with AI playing a central role. With the help of modern software, the system can automatically identify anomalies such as missing pole-mounted enclosures, leaning poles, or broken insulators – and then generate detailed reports with relevant data.
Drones equipped with thermography can also detect hotspots by analysing objects from multiple angles, providing a more reliable basis for decision-making. An example of the technology’s benefits is a recurring line break in a wetland. An initial inspection with binoculars did not reveal any obvious causes, but a drone quickly detected traces of bird activity in an otherwise inaccessible area.
— This led us to install bird-deterrents using drones and a specially developed tool from our R&D department. This measure significantly reduced the risk of new collisions and subsequent operational disruptions, says Anders Lindström.
Successful pilot project paves the way for future automated inspections
The development of drone technology paves the way for more automated solutions. One example is a pilot project in which Vattenfall Services, in collaboration with a partner, tested automated drone inspections. Over an 89-kilometre stretch, the drones identified 200 anomalies, of which 11 were classified as serious and 43 required urgent action.
— We identified more deviations than during helicopter inspections and, not least, we dramatically reduced the environmental impact, Anders Söderberg says.
However, drone technology is only one part of a broader development in robotics. Since Vattenfall started using drones, the technology has advanced rapidly and today it is also used for laser scanning of facilities. In parallel, underwater robots, known as ROVs, have made it possible to carry out inspections in aquatic environments
— The future will bring more automation. Robotic dogs and drone-in-a-box systems can be remotely controlled to inspect inaccessible or hazardous environments where humans cannot or should not go, Lindström explains.
Lindström and Söderberg both see great potential in technological developments.
— We are in the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0., in which machine learning, integrated systems, IoT and AI are advancing more and more. This also permeates our traditional maintenance and inspection activities. The new technology allows us to work more efficiently, more safely and with higher quality than ever before. This opens enormous opportunities for our industry, say both Söderberg and Lindström.
Drones and AI at Elfack 2025
At Elfack 2025, Anders Söderberg will share his experiences from Vattenfall Services and highlight future opportunities in drone technology and artificial intelligence. In his lecture, ‘Drones – The Digital Eyes of the Future for Both Inspection and Installation Supported by AI’, he will provide an insight into the development of the technology and what can be expected in the near future.
— I will tell you about our technological journey to date, where we have gone from a few remote pilots to almost 500. I will also look ahead and reflect on what is around the corner – what we think might happen in one or five years. Hopefully, I can stimulate new thoughts and ideas, Anders Söderberg concludes.
Secure your ticket for Elfack 2025 here and visit Vattenfall Services on stand A03:09. You can also attend Anders Söderberg’s session on Futuristic Eyes on the Innovation Stage on 8 May 10:30-10:50.