Beam unveils autonomous underwater vehicle driven by AI for wind farm operations

Portugal-based Beam, a provider of high-technology offshore wind services, recently announced Scout, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) driven by artificial intelligence.

Scout is expected to enter the market in 2025, and will put the power of subsea inspection directly in the hands of wind farm operators.

Scout represents Beam’s expansion of offshore wind technology

Beam says this is an important step in the company’s journey to develop underwater technologies that transform the viability and scalability of offshore wind. Scout will combine advanced AI, real-time 3D reconstructions and precise navigation to deliver quicker and more cost-effective inspections.

The technology was successfully demonstrated in a world-first deployment at SSE’s Seagreen Wind Farm in September 2024. Beam said the system’s fully autonomous self-driving capabilities also require minimal human intervention.

Unlike traditional inspection methods that demand specialized vessels and expert crews, Scout is designed to be self-driving and will perform inspections by itself, reporting back at the end of the mission. Beam intends for Scout to be deployed directly by people from existing Crew Transfer Vessels during routine visits. This will enable a wider pool of people to confidently manage subsea maintenance of wind farms, helping alleviate the pressing offshore wind skills gap that threatens the sector’s ability to scale.

“Our mission has always been to make offshore wind not just a viable energy source, but the most desirable one,” said Brian Allen, Beam CEO. “Scout will place world-leading technology directly into the hands of wind farm operators and accelerate the industry’s growth at a critical time. Meeting national and international capacity targets will require all operators, not just those with extensive resources, to scale their operations at pace. Scout is therefore a crucial part of enabling the future of offshore wind.”

Beam said this new way of conducting operations will eliminate the need for expensive, third-party services, meaning that once infrequent inspections can become routine management.

Scout will enable 4K 3D reconstructions, such as year-on-year site comparisons, equipping teams with unprecedented insights into asset integrity and structural health, which Beam said will minimize the need for reactive repairs and reduce long-term operational costs.

Scout, according to Beam, will also significantly reduce the carbon footprint of subsea inspections. By eliminating the need for dedicated inspection vessels, Beam’s AUV will lower fuel consumption and the emissions associated with specialized underwater campaigns.