Singapore: DNV GL unveils its maiden collaboration with start-up SwarmX

DNV GL hosted Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg for an unveiling of the latest product in its smarter operations services for wind and solar farms.

The product, known as The Hive™, is a fully autonomous drone docking station. Produced by Singapore start-up SwarmX, it will now be offered in DNV GL’s smarter operations services bundle to all Southeast Asia renewable energy providers.

These companies can optimize their existing fleets by combining the use of the drone docking station with DNV GL’s Portfolio Manager software. Specifically, companies can monitor production and performance of a wind or solar asset, prevent problems form occurring, and acting in the case a problem does arise.

“DNV GL initiated the partnership to combine its core competencies with new, external technologies for enhanced energy efficiency,” said Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO at DNV GL. “It reflects our company-wide transformation into a fully Customer Centric, Efficient and Data Smart Company, for improved asset operation”.

“This partnership with DNV GL allows clients to use our platform without worrying about data security, service companies flying onsite drones, or the hassle of integrating multiple hardware and software platforms to get data,” said Nigel Wylie, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at SwarmX. “The client needs to merely ask for the data they want and our autonomous systems do the rest”.

The partnership also demonstrates the ongoing collaboration between Norway and Singapore. Singapore is home to Asia’s largest concentration of Norwegian Foreign Direct Investment and companies – including DNV GL’s Asia Pacific headquarters. The two nations also share a similar vision around clean energy, offshore oil and gas exploration, and ongoing research and development.

“It is increasingly important for renewable energy providers to look beyond capacity to improve energy efficiency and asset optimization,” said Mathias Steck, Executive Vice President Asia Pacific at DNV GL – Energy. “We are happy to have the support and knowledge of both Singapore and Norway in helping advance this goal.”

The unveiling of The Hive™ occurred today at the DNV GL Singapore Laboratory, which opened in 2014 to meet the growing demand for clean energy services in the region. It currently delivers innovative marine and offshore industry solutions, as well as services to the power and renewables industry.