Press Release:
Droniq Enables Mainova to Use Drones for Inspecting District Heating Pipes

The collaboration began last year. During the initial test flights, Droniq demonstrated how district heating pipelines can be inspected from the air. Sections of the pipeline were inspected at various locations, including hard-to-reach areas such as overgrown sections or pipelines running under bridges.

During inspections of district heating pipelines, drones fly over sections of the pipeline and capture images of the infrastructure using cameras and thermal imaging sensors. The images reveal temperature differences that indicate potential heat loss or damage to joints and supports. This method is considered faster and safer than traditional visual inspections.

To enable them to operate the drones themselves, Droniq also provided six Mainova employees with theoretical and practical training for professional use. In addition, the company provided suitable drone technology, including industrial drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and spotlights, as well as smaller consumer drones weighing less than 250 grams. Droniq also assisted Mainova in applying for a general permit for drone operations. This permit authorizes Mainova to use drones in residential and industrial areas under certain restrictions.

“Inspecting our extensive district heating network regularly presents us with major logistical and safety challenges—especially in hard-to-reach areas such as bridges or densely built-up areas,” says Marco Pietsch, Head of the District Heating Operations Department at Mainova. “Together with Droniq, we were able to test how drones can make these inspections more efficient and be integrated into our existing processes in a legally compliant manner.”

Following successful trials, the energy supplier is now using the drones in regular operations. The district heating network in the urban area spans approximately 310 kilometers. Mainova uses three drones for inspections and relies on a team of six trained pilots. Depending on the section, several kilometers of pipeline can be inspected per mission, with the data subsequently documented and analyzed. To keep track of the drone and the surrounding manned and unmanned air traffic at all times, Mainova also uses an application provided by Droniq.

The partnership with Droniq will also continue. As a next step, the company will assist the energy provider in establishing an internal training unit for drone pilots. The goal is to empower and equip maintenance staff on a broad scale so they can benefit from the new technology with the same breadth and speed.

“Our goal is to enable companies to use drones professionally and safely,” says Jan-Eric Putze, CEO of Droniq GmbH. “The project with Mainova demonstrates the potential drones have for inspecting critical infrastructure—especially in urban areas.”