RWE Pioneers Cargo Drone Operations to Transform Offshore Wind Logistics
RWE has reached a major milestone in offshore wind logistics, successfully introducing long-range autonomous and short-distance cargo drones into daily operations at German offshore wind farms. In what is believed to be a first in German offshore airspace, the trials demonstrated how drones can efficiently deliver spare parts, tools, and consumables, complementing traditional logistics while reducing time, costs, and emissions.
The multi-phase pilot project took place at RWE’s Nordsee Ost wind farm, located north of the island of Heligoland, and at the Arkona wind farm in the German Baltic Sea. RWE collaborated with three key partners: Skyways, a designer and manufacturer of long-range autonomous cargo drones; Skyports Drone Services, a global leader in drone-enabled delivery and inspection; and Ampelmann Operations, the Dutch offshore access provider facilitating safe personnel and cargo transfers at sea.
Sven Utermöhlen, CEO of RWE Offshore Wind, commented: “As offshore wind scales, so must our logistics at sea. Our trials showed that cargo drones can complement traditional logistics by boosting uptime, improving safety, and reducing costs and emissions. Cargo drones could become an integrated part of operating and maintaining our global offshore wind fleet in the future.”
Three Trial Set-Ups, One Objective
The pilot project is part of RWE’s broader strategy to integrate innovative technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability in offshore operations. Across 2024 and 2025, three different trial series were conducted to evaluate the potential of cargo drones in challenging offshore environments.
Autonomous Long-Distance Flights: Port to Offshore Turbines
The latest trial series took place in September on the German island of Rügen. Over a three-week demonstration, a Version 2 Skyways drone carried cargo weighing up to 10 kilograms on an autonomous route spanning more than 40 kilometres from Mukran Port to the Arkona offshore wind farm. Upon reaching the turbines, the drone locked onto the nacelle and performed an automated cargo drop before returning autonomously to its take-off point. The flights were supervised by Skyports’ pilots.
Traditionally, deliveries to offshore turbines require at least an hour by boat from Rügen. In contrast, the drones completed the journey in under 30 minutes, offering a faster, more flexible, and environmentally friendly solution for delivering small, time-critical components. These long-range flights build on RWE’s 2024 experience with electric fixed-wing drones successfully transporting up to 4 kilograms to the Arkona offshore substation.
Germany’s First BVLOS Turbine Deliveries
The Arkona trials mark the first repeated BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) deliveries to offshore wind turbines in Germany. Fully autonomous and executed without reliance on mobile networks, these flights followed predefined routes under strict regulatory compliance, representing a groundbreaking achievement in German offshore wind logistics.
Short-Distance Drone Deliveries: Vessel to Turbines
Earlier in 2025, RWE piloted short-distance cargo deliveries from a service operation vessel to Nordsee Ost turbines using electric multirotor drones. These drones carried payloads of up to 30 kilograms, with future capabilities projected at 100 kilograms. By delivering spare parts, tools, and consumables directly to turbine tops, RWE addressed key maintenance challenges, including overpacking and long lifting times.
The trials demonstrated potential savings of at least 1.5 hours per turbine visit, while reducing fuel consumption and technician workload. The exercises, conducted in collaboration with Ampelmann Operations, also included a medical emergency simulation. Supplies were successfully delivered to the turbine nacelle, highlighting the drones’ critical potential for emergency response scenarios.
