Xcel Energy and FAA Partner to Research Using UAS to Inspect Electrical Infrastructure
Xcel Energy, which provides power for several states in the Midwest, has announced that it has partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to research safe ways to use UAS to inspect critical, electrical infrastructure.
As a part of the partnership, the Minneapolis-based Xcel will use UAS to inspect more than 20,000 miles of its transmission lines in 10 different states, providing the FAA with crucial data that it will use to secure the United States’ current and future airspace.
“We're proud to partner with the FAA to explore ways unmanned aircraft systems can enhance public safety while protecting the national grid and gas pipelines,” says Kent Larson, Xcel Energy’s executive vice president and group president of operations, via press release.
“Drone technology is already giving us better inspection data to efficiently and effectively monitor our systems, ensuring employee safety and improving reliability to better serve customers.”
One of the main goals for both entities to achieve through this partnership is to shape future FAA policies surrounding beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights used for inspecting electrical grids. This year, Xcel plans on conducting at least one BVLOS flight along transmission lines in a rural area.
This isn’t the first time that Xcel and the FAA have worked together, as they previously worked together to advance UAS guidelines for the energy sector.
