All Reports
2Q 2021

Unmanned Aerial Systems and Drones for Critical Energy Infrastructure

Unmanned Aerial System Use Cases and Market Trends across Utility, Oil & Gas, and Mining Industries: Regional Overview, Global Market Forecasts, and Analysis

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have been proven as a useful and cost-effective technology to maintain reliability and maximize operations across the varying sectors of critical energy infrastructure. UAS technologies are used to drive efficiencies in inspections of various critical assets such as the aging transmission and distribution (T&D) network; utility-scale, baseload generation plants; mines; and all segments of the oil & gas (O&G) value stream. These technologies can also be used for emergency response, outage restoration, and search and rescue missions and can provide unparalleled benefits in terms of worker safety.

The use cases and applications for UAS technologies in the energy industry will likely continue to expand and evolve in the coming years. UAS are expected to become a common tool used across all energy industry segments. With the ongoing evolution of advanced analytics capabilities, high speed wireless, and secure connectivity, UAS are anticipated to drastically change the ways in which the energy system is maintained and operated.

This Guidehouse Insights report focuses on the drivers, barriers, and regional global trends aiding the adoption of UAS technologies in multiple industries. This report provides utility, O&G, mining, and UAS vendors with a study of the major markets globally, including specific regional developments and issues, in addition to technology trends. Technology segments included in this forecast are hardware, software and analytics, labor and services, and UaaS. Energy industry adoption is forecast in the following industry segments: T&D lines, power plants, O&G well pads, transmission pipelines, refineries, and mines. All major global regions are included, and the forecast period extends through 2030.

Pages 77
Tables | Charts | Figures 67
  • What are the primary applications for UAS technologies in the energy industry?
  • What are the various UAS technology options for oil & gas, utility, and mining applications?
  • What supporting technologies exist that will help maximize the value of UAS in the energy industry?
  • Where does UAS technology offer the most potential for growth across the oil & gas, utility, and mining industries?
  • What are the benefits of using UAS technologies in the energy industry?
  • What challenges are associated with adopting UAS technology for the discussed energy applications?
  • What is the future role of UaaS providers?
  • What are the business models driving UAS adoption in the energy industry?
  • Utility operation and maintenance managers
  • Power plant operators
  • UAS and drone manufacturers
  • Energy software and advanced analytics providers
  • UaaS Providers
  • Drone Service Providers
  • Refinery operations managers
  • O&G well pad operations managers
  • Mining and Aggregate operations managers
  • Power plant operators
  • O&G pipeline inspection companies
  • Investor community

1. Executive Summary

1.1   Introduction

1.2   Market Overview

1.3   Global Market Forecast

2. Market Issues

2.1   Unmanned Aerial Systems and Drone Applications in the Critical Energy Industry

2.1.1   Utility Applications

2.1.1.1   T&D

2.1.1.2   Generation

2.1.2   O&G Applications

2.1.2.1   Upstream

2.1.2.2   Midstream

2.1.2.3   Downstream

2.1.2.4   Case Study: BPX Energy - Methane Leak Detection at Well Pads

2.1.3   Mining Applications

2.1.3.1   Surface Mining

2.1.3.2   Underground Mining

2.2   UAS and Drone Purchasing Models

2.3   Market Drivers

2.3.1   Aging Critical Infrastructure

2.3.2   Resiliency

2.3.3   Reliability

2.3.4   Speed and Operational Efficiency

2.3.5   Costs

2.3.6   Worker Safety

2.3.7   Responding to COVID-19

2.3.8   Advancements in Software and Analytics

2.4   Market Challenges

2.4.1   Regulatory Hurdles

2.4.1.1   VLOS

2.4.1.2   Evolving European Regulations

2.4.2   Security

2.4.3   Public Perception

2.4.4   Cultural Inertia

2.4.5   Technology Limitations

3. Technology Issues

3.1   The UAS Platform

3.1.1   Hardware - UAVs or Drones

3.1.2   Payloads - Sensors and Cameras

3.1.3   Software and Analytics

3.1.3.1   Data Management Models

3.1.4   Batteries

3.1.5   Connectivity

3.1.6   Other UAS Platform Components

3.2   Advancing UAS and Drone Technologies

3.2.1   Autonomous Flight

3.2.2   BVLOS

4. Key Industry Players

4.1   UAS and Drone Vendors

4.1.1   Autel Robotics

4.1.2   Delair

4.1.3   DJI

4.1.4   FIXAR

4.1.5   Flyability

4.1.6   Parrot

4.1.7   Quantum-Systems

4.1.8   Skydio

4.1.9   Wingtra

4.2   UaaS Providers

4.2.1   Aerodyne Measure

4.2.2   Cyberhawk

4.2.3   PrecisionHawk

4.2.4   Sharper Shape

4.2.5   Skyward

4.2.6   Terra Drone

4.2.7   ULC Technologies

4.3   Software and Analytics Vendors

4.3.1   Buzz Solutions

4.3.2   DroneDeploy

4.3.3   Measure

4.3.4   Pix4D

4.3.5   SkySpecs

4.3.6   Sterblue

5. Market Forecasts

5.1   Forecast Methodology and Assumptions

5.2   Global Overview

5.3   Regional Forecasts and Analysis

5.3.1   North America

5.3.2   Europe

5.3.3   Asia Pacific

5.3.4   Latin America

5.3.5   Middle East & Africa

6. Conclusions and Recommendations

6.1   Evolving Market Landscape

6.1.1   Recommendations for Vendors and UaaS Providers

6.1.2   Recommendations for Energy Companies

6.1.2.1   Build an Internal Program

6.1.2.2   Develop a Skilled Workforce

6.1.2.3   Focus on Cybersecurity

6.1.2.4   Evaluate the Vendor Landscape

7. Acronym and Abbreviation List

8. Table of Contents

9. Table of Charts and Figures

10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

  • UAS and Drone Combined Energy Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • Example Thermal Imagery UAV Inspection of Solar PV Panels
  • UAS Inspection Applications for Offshore Oil Rigs
  • Examples of Fixed-Wing, Multirotor, and Hybrid Vertical Takeoff and Landing UAVs
  • UAS Aerial Imagery Examples
  • UAS Components
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Line Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone O&G Pipeline Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Region, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Industry, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, World Markets: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Pipeline Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Segment, North America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Pipeline Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Segment, Europe: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Pipeline Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Segment, Asia Pacific: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Pipeline Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Segment, Latin America: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Combined Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone T&D Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Power Plant Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Well Pad Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Pipeline Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Refinery Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Mine Revenue by Segment, Middle East & Africa: 2021-2030
  • UAS and Drone Technology Segments
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