Maintaining offshore wind platforms is notoriously challenging. Remote locations, harsh weather and complex logistics pose continuous safety and operational risks for personnel. When a fire/arc event occurs inside a nacelle, critical diagnostic information is often lost, and crews are left uncertain about the failure's cause or required parts until after inspection.

Machine-learning-enabled thermal imaging solutions are addressing these issues. Bi-spectral cameras, like SYTIS’ TC-90™, provide clear images and remote, real-time visibility into electrical enclosures. These miniaturized cameras fit inside nacelles and, powered by POE, offer a holistic view of components, connections and wiring. They detect micro-failures—like pinhole leaks in hydraulic lines—before they escalate.

Shifting from time-based to condition-based maintenance enables earlier interventions, historical trend analysis and more resilient and efficient operations while reducing the need for high-risk manual inspections.

For more information – read the case study by Ryan Severe, Senior Engineer for Wind Assets at Puget Sound Energy.