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Drones make Dominion's operations greener and safer.
Since 2014, use of drones at Dominion has grown exponentially. Drones reduce the need for older methods of facility inspection such as flying helicopters and climbing power line structures, which are less safe, have a bigger carbon footprint or both.
This article is about:
How Dominion uses UASs
The benefits of UASs in facility inspection
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), most commonly known as Drones, are flown throughout all of Dominion’s operations for various uses such as inspection of critical infrastructure, surveys, internal facility systems and gas pipeline inspections. Drones have a limited environmental impact compared to traditional methods such as helicopters or manned aircraft, and have reduced the carbon footprint of our inspections process.
Our electric transmission operations spearheaded drone use within Dominion starting in 2014. Since then we have inspected thousands of miles of infrastructure with drones, greatly reducing our carbon footprint by not utilizing manned aircraft. The use of drones has grown exponentially in daily operations at solar farms, construction sites, electric and gas right of ways, and facility inspections, with many future uses on the horizon.
In 2019, Dominion Energy became one of the only energy companies in the country to gain approval from the FAA for “beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)” drone flights under the federal UAS Integration Pilot Program in collaboration with the Virginia Tech Mid Atlantic Aviation Partnership. Being involved in the Integrated Pilot Program has provided the opportunity to lead the industry and write the book on how this technology can be utilized in the energy sector. Dominion Energy embraces innovation and drones are a new technology we are using to better serve our customers.
UAS means "Unmanned Aerial System". UASs are commonly referred to as drones.
We want to use UASs to improve the speed, efficiency, and safety of completing routine and emergency inspections. We can quickly dispatch UASs to conduct preliminary inspections rather than dispatch helicopters, linemen or other field technicians to climb structures or maneuver through hazardous terrain. Using UASs also helps reduce Dominion Energy’s carbon footprint.
Dominion Energy is always looking at new technologies that provide reliable service to our customers. We began working with vendors and the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership in 2014 to investigate new technologies for inspecting our transmission equipment.
Highly skilled UAS operators are dispatched to the field and fly a UAS remotely within line of sight. They use the UAS to take high definition video and photos to identify any equipment that may need repair or maintenance. We use UASs equipped with specialized methane sensors to bring us closer to fulfilling our NetZero 2050 promise. Additionally, we use UASs to assess storm damage after major events, saving time and resources during the restoration effort.
Flying and hovering around the high-voltage electric transmission system enables inspectors to clearly see any defects that could affect safety or service reliability. Specifically, the inspector surveys the transmission system for structural issues, damaged wire and hardware problems. Over time, hardware becomes worn by storms, wind and the high-voltage electric current constantly running through the lines. Due to the high-voltage electricity the transmission lines carry, inspectors also look in rights of way for objects such as pools, sheds, vehicles that are too close to the lines and structures and may pose safety concerns for the public and the electric system.
Dominion Energy has FAA certified pilots as well as qualified service providers that specialize in the safe operation of UASs. Many of the operators are former military pilots.
Yes, Dominion Energy and its service providers have all necessary FAA approval.
Overall, safety risks to the public and to our crews are greatly reduced when compared to conventional methods. We will reduce our need to fly helicopters to identify issues or perform routine checks.
We take the privacy of our customers and the citizens of the states we serve seriously. The unmanned aerial vehicles will fly only in transmission right of ways and be used to capture only video or photos associated with the proper maintenance of Dominion Energy facilities. Every state has privacy laws to protect citizens’ privacy, and the use of UASs is subject to these laws. Dominion Energy will fully comply with the letter and spirit of these laws to protect citizens.
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