Navigant: Global annual revenue from drone utility line inspections to reach $4.1 billion by 2024

Friday October 16, 2015 Tags: Boulder, Navigant Research, drones, UAVs

BOULDER -- Global annual revenue from drone and robotics technologies for utility transmission systems inspections and maintenance is expected to grow from $131.7 million this year to $4.1 billion in 2024, according to a new report from Navigant Research.

Transmission and distribution operators and utilities across the globe are looking to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) to reduce costs, improve safety and increase reliability and response times across their system, Navigant said.

Transmission and distribution utilities have traditionally used line crews, helicopters and third-party inspection service companies to perform line inspections.

Working on T&D systems is costly, difficult and sometimes highly dangerous, and drone inspections represent an alternative to grid operators, Navigant said.

The Navigant report analyzes the global market for drone and robotic solutions, along with barriers and regulatory factors.

A free executive summary of the report is available for download on the Navigant website.