$420,000 Saved in Elios 1 Test by Argentinian Energy Company, Subsequently Invests in Elios 2

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$420,000 Saved in Elios 1 Test by Argentinian Energy Company, Then Invests in Elios 2

Pampa Energía, the leading independent energy company in Argentina, saved $420,000 during its first test of the Elios 1 for boiler inspections and later decided to invest in the Elios 2.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Safety

Using the Elios 1 instead of sending inspectors onto tall scaffolding inside each boiler allowed Pampa Energía to collect visual data remotely, eliminating exposure to dangerous environments and improving worker safety significantly.

ROI

The Elios 1 helped identify that burners in a power plant’s boiler were damaged before the warranty expired. This discovery allowed the company to save $420,000 by avoiding unnecessary scaffolding, downtime, and costly repairs under warranty.
Speed & Efficiency

Boiler inspections were cut from a full day to just 20 minutes. Downtime was reduced from 7 days to only 2 days, as the boiler only needed time to cool down before the inspection could be conducted.


Company Overview

Pampa Energía is the largest independent energy company in Argentina, operating across all sectors of the power generation industry. As part of their maintenance procedures, they conduct regular inspections of boilers used in their power plants.

Pampa-Energia-building

Each boiler has several burners, and traditionally, these inspections involved sending personnel into the boiler on scaffolding with flashlights to visually inspect the internal components. This process was time-consuming and expensive, often requiring seven full days of downtime per inspection.

Customer Needs

With mandatory biannual inspections required by law, Pampa Energía faced significant downtime costs—about 14 days per boiler annually. The logistical challenges of managing multiple boilers also added complexity to their operations.

Faced with safety concerns, high costs, and inefficiencies, Pampa Energía began exploring alternative inspection solutions. They eventually discovered Flyability’s Elios 1 drone, designed specifically for indoor inspections in challenging environments like boilers.

Elios 1 Tested at Pampa Energía's Bahía Blanca Power Plant

The Elios 1 was first tested at Pampa Energía’s Bahía Blanca power plant, one of the largest in Argentina. In just 20 minutes, the drone collected enough visual data for a full inspection of the boiler, impressing the team with its speed and efficiency.

Flyability Elios 1

Flyability's Elios 1 in flight

During the test, the team decided to inspect a second boiler, which had already cooled down. The inspection revealed severe damage to the burners, which were still under warranty. This discovery led to a major cost-saving opportunity.

A $420,000 Inspection

The images captured by the Elios 1 provided clear evidence of the burners’ poor condition, allowing Pampa Energía to file an insurance claim and recover the full cost of the damaged parts. The inspection also prevented potential safety hazards, ensuring the well-being of workers.

Here are the savings achieved from this single inspection:

  • Scaffolding savings = $30,000
  • Downtime costs avoided = $290,000
  • Insurance recognition savings = $100,000

Total savings = $420,000

Elios 2 Adopted Based on Success of Elios 1

After seeing the success of the Elios 1, Pampa Energía quickly integrated it into their routine inspections. When the Elios 2 was released in 2019, the company immediately tested it and was even more impressed with its improved performance.

Pampa Energia_Elios 2

A picture taken by the Elios 2 at one of Pampa Energía's plants

The Elios 2 offers better image quality, advanced stabilization, and easier operation. It has been approved by formal inspection bodies and is now used across Pampa Energía’s coal, gas, and even hydropower plants.

Looking ahead, Pampa Energía plans to establish an in-house drone team at each of its facilities, equipped with an Elios 2 and trained pilots. With such a strong return on investment, expanding drone use across all plants was a natural next step.

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