Eco Wave Power Global has partnered with BladeRanger Ltd to introduce drone-powered cleaning and maintenance for its onshore wave energy systems.
The collaboration was demonstrated at Eco Wave Power’s grid-connected project in Jaffa Port, Israel, where BladeRanger’s drones cleaned and inspected the company’s floaters, which convert ocean waves into electricity.
Eco Wave Power said the use of autonomous drones could reduce operating expenses, lower downtime, and increase energy output, making wave power more competitive with other renewable energy sources. At its Jaffa Port and Gibraltar sites, annual operational costs have previously reached as high as 4% of project CAPEX. The company said drone-based cleaning and predictive maintenance could significantly reduce these costs while improving reliability.
“After celebrating the opening of our Los Angeles pilot on September 9, we are proud to take another bold step toward smarter, more scalable wave energy,” said Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power. “Partnering with BladeRanger lets us integrate cutting-edge drone technology into our operations – making our systems cleaner, more efficient, and better prepared for global deployment.”
BladeRanger, which provides drone cleaning solutions for large-scale solar projects including those operated by Nofar Energy (TASE: NOFR), said it views wave energy as a new application for its technology.
“Our mission has always been to automate renewable energy maintenance for maximum efficiency and sustainability,” said Hagai Climor, Chairman of BladeRanger. “This collaboration allows us to extend our proven technology to wave energy and ensure these systems stay in top shape with minimal manual intervention.”
Eco Wave Power and BladeRanger said they plan to explore a long-term strategic collaboration, including potential deployment of the drone technology at the Los Angeles pilot and future projects worldwide.
You can view a video of the drone-based O&M process in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNWGpRQIhiw
