Statnett SF, Norway's state-owned transmission system operator (TSO), manages an extensive network of 11,000 km of high-voltage power lines and 150 substations, delivering a stable power supply across the country’s rugged landscapes. To overcome the challenges of operating in some of the world’s most difficult terrains, Statnett is using FlytBase’s enterprise AI platform for drone autonomy to conduct remote inspections of critical infrastructure, improving safety, efficiency, and reliability.
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This achievement highlights the practical benefits of autonomous drone operations for energy infrastructure monitoring, offering valuable insights for professionals seeking advanced inspection solutions.

Overcoming Norway's Inspection Challenges

Statnett’s infrastructure spans fjords, mountains, and valleys, posing major maintenance challenges:

• Rugged Terrain: Substations like Sunndalsøra, located over 1,000 meters above sea level, are often inaccessible in winter. Powerlines crossing steep hillsides further complicate access.
• High-Risk Inspections: Technicians conducting live-line climbs face significant safety risks due to high-voltage equipment.
• Busy Airspace: Shared with heliports, model aircraft, and BASE jumpers, Norwegian airspace demands precision navigation.
• Strict Regulatory Standards: Norway mandates a 50-meter flight envelope, with all deviations requiring reporting, demanding high accuracy from drone systems.
• Security Vulnerabilities: A major oil leak in March 2025, caused by suspected sabotage at a transformer station in Bærum underscored the need for 24/7 infrastructure monitoring.
• Data Fragmentation: Dispersed inspection data slows analysis and delays critical repairs, increasing the risk of outages from vegetation overgrowth or aging equipment.

These challenges necessitated an automated, reliable solution to improve Statnett's inspection processes while prioritizing safety and efficiency.

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How FlytBase Enables Autonomous Inspections

FlytBase's AI-powered drone autonomy software platform enables Statnett to perform automated BVLOS inspections, addressing each challenge with advanced features seamlessly integrated with drone-in-a-box systems:

• ‍Integration with Drone-in-a-Box Systems: FlytBase connects effortlessly with drone-in-a-box hardware, enabling automated workflows that include launch, navigation, landing, and battery charging without human intervention. This integration allows Statnett to operate drones remotely from a centralized platform, streamlining inspections across remote sites. The system's scalability supports Statnett's expansive network, ensuring consistent performance as operations grow.

• Centralized Fleet Management: From Statnett's Drone Operations Center in Sunndalsøra, operators use FlytBase's intuitive dashboard to monitor and control a fleet of drones and docks, eliminating the need for personnel to visit hazardous, remote locations.

• Autonomous Operations: Drones independently launch, navigate, and return to their docks, inspecting transformers, transmission towers, and insulators. Automated battery management supports continuous operations, ideal for frequent inspections in challenging terrains.‍
• Precise Navigation: FlytBase integrates digital elevation models (DEM) and LiDAR overlays, achieving decimeter-level accuracy to keep drones within Norway's 50-meter flight envelope, safely navigating steep terrains and crowded airspaces.‍
• Organized Data Storage: Inspection footage and metadata are automatically tagged and stored in a centralized platform, enabling Statnett to analyze asset health quickly and identify issues like hotspots, corrosion, or vegetation risks.‍
• Long-Range Inspections: Supported by 4G LTE connectivity, FlytBase enables BVLOS operations, allowing drones to cover extensive powerline sections and remote substations without line-of-sight restrictions.‍
• Enhanced Airspace Safety: Statnett's customized 30-gram ADS-L (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Light) transponder, integrated with FlytBase, improves drone visibility in shared airspaces, supporting UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems.

This integration of FlytBase with drone-in-a-box systems provides Statnett with a powerful, automated solution for safe and efficient inspections.
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Key Inspection Achievements

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Statnett has successfully completed their first fully remote drone inspection flight between Aura and Viklandet, including a detailed examination of the Viklandet substation. The entire operation was controlled from their Drone Operations Center in Sunndalsøra, demonstrating the practical benefits of autonomous drone operations for infrastructure monitoring.

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This implementation shows how power utilities can improve inspection efficiency and data quality while reducing operational costs and enhancing worker safety. The inspection operation utilized a drone docking station with FlytBase software. This technology combination enabled remote launch, landing, and charging capabilities fully integrated into Statnett's operations platform. The mission was supervised using joystick control alongside real-time software monitoring.

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This integration allows for expanded operational capabilities, which can significantly improve the scope and efficiency of critical infrastructure inspections.

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As stated by Espen Blomlie “The inspection flight was executed using Dock and FlytBase, with full support for remote launch, landing, and charging, integrated into our operations platform. The mission was supervised using joystick control and real-time software monitoring – a true showcase of the future of infrastructure inspections.”

Looking Ahead

Statnett plans to expand the use of FlytBase's technology across its network, aligning with Norway's sustainability objectives:

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• ‍Network-Wide Expansion: Statnett aims to deploy drone-docks across its 11,000 km powerline network, targeting remote and hard-to-access sections to ensure comprehensive inspection coverage.‍
• Strengthened Security: Continuous drone surveillance will enhance protection of critical infrastructure, reducing risks like the Bærum oil leak incident and safeguarding assets against potential security threats.‍
• Environmental Benefits: FlytBase's efficient inspections reduce the need for ground-crew travel, supporting Statnett's sustainability efforts. This aligns with major environmental initiatives like Statnett's construction of four new SF6-free 420 kV substations at Hyggevatn, Skaidi, Liåsen, and Ulven, which avoid 22.5 tons of SF6 gas, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 25,200 times greater than CO2.‍

These plans position Statnett to lead in technology-driven, sustainable grid maintenance.

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Practical Applications for Infrastructure Monitoring

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This successful remote inspection demonstrates the potential for power utilities to transform their infrastructure monitoring processes. With autonomous drone technology, companies can perform more frequent asset inspections while reducing the need for personnel to access hazardous locations, ultimately improving both operational efficiency and safety outcomes.

As utilities continue to adopt autonomous drone technology, implementations like Statnett's provide valuable real-world examples of effective technical integration and safety-focused operations.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7316468403005743104