As part of his summer tour of his constituency of Gifhorn-Peine, Member of the Bundestag Hubertus Heil (SPD) visited ENERTRAG’s operations centre in Edemissen, accompanied by other political representatives. The focus of the visit was a live demonstration of a drone inspection of a wind turbine at the Alvesse wind farm.

Alongside Hubertus Heil, those attending the event included Edemissen’s mayor, Tobias Faust. The demonstration followed on from a visit in November 2025, during which Hubertus Heil learnt about the work, training and growth within the renewable energy sector.

Modern drone technology supports turbine operation

The demonstration of drone technology showed how modern inspection methods for wind turbines work. High-resolution cameras and digital analysis methods enable precise inspection of the rotor blades without the need for complex rope access or crane technology. Damage can be detected at an early stage and maintenance work planned effectively. This reduces downtime at the wind turbines and increases technical availability.

“The energy transition requires not only high-performance turbines, but also innovative technologies to ensure their safe and cost-effective operation. The drone inspections demonstrated here impressively show how digitalisation and renewable energy can work together. It is impressive to see the technical expertise that has been built up at the Edemissen site and the contribution that local staff are making to a modern and sustainable energy supply,” explains Hubertus Heil.

The mayor of Edemissen, Tobias Faust, adds: “Edemissen is increasingly becoming an important hub for innovative energy technologies. Companies such as ENERTRAG are creating skilled jobs and bringing forward-looking solutions to our region. The drone technology presented today shows how progress, sustainability and regional value creation can be successfully combined.”

Edemissen as a centre of expertise for technical operations management

At its Edemissen site, ENERTRAG is responsible for the technical operation of numerous wind and photovoltaic plants and is increasingly relying on digital solutions. Drone inspections form part of a comprehensive strategy to make operational processes more efficient and sustainable.

“With modern drone systems, we can carry out inspections much more efficiently. The technology supports our teams in the reliable operation of technical installations and helps us to continuously improve availability and inspection quality,” said Michael Dahm, Managing Director at ENERTRAG Betrieb.

The technology is now being used not only in wind farms. ENERTRAG also uses drones for thermographic measurements in photovoltaic projects to identify sources of faults at an early stage and ensure the long-term performance of solar installations.

During the visit, the delegation also learnt about developments at the Edemissen site. With its technical services in the areas of operations management, inspection and maintenance, ENERTRAG Betrieb is a major employer in the Peine district and offers skilled workers attractive career prospects.

The joint discussions highlighted the importance of innovative operational and maintenance technologies for the success of the energy transition. At the same time, it became clear what a vital role regional sites such as Edemissen play in putting technological innovations into practice and enabling a secure, sustainable and increasingly digitalised energy supply.