Photo: From left: Henrik Grosen (CEO), Sune Yde Nielsen (CTO), and Jens Rahbæk (COO, Drone Systems; CEO, Scandinavian Drone Solutions, now a subsidiary).
While illegal drone flights make the headlines, Drone Systems continues its authorized operations — now doubling capacity through the acquisition of Scandinavian Drone Solutions. With advanced thermal drones, the company helps the district heating sector save both energy and CO₂.
Aarhus, Denmark — 14.10.2025
“Our drones fly at night with heat-sensitive cameras to detect leaks in underground district heating pipes. By identifying and repairing these leaks, utilities save large amounts of water, energy, and CO₂,” says Henrik Grosen, CEO of Drone Systems.
“Until now, our capacity has matched the Danish market, where we already inspect pipelines for half of all district heating plants, including several of the largest. We also serve customers in the UK and Norway, and interest in Germany is rapidly increasing,” he adds.
To meet that demand, Drone Systems has acquired Scandinavian Drone Solutions and appointed its director Jens Rahbæk as COO. Rahbæk is an experienced drone pilot and recognized expert in European airspace regulations.
“Useful drones should not be confused with illegal flights.”
Recent reports of unauthorized drone flights over Danish airports have caused concern, but Drone Systems is not worried about long-term effects.
“It’s exactly at night and near infrastructure that we operate — legally — to perform socially valuable work,” explains Sune Yde Nielsen, CTO.
“We always hold the necessary authorizations and inform the Danish Transport Authority, the Police, and/or the Armed Forces before every mission.
Our operators are always visible and on-site. If citizens see us working, they can simply ask. We’ve flown safely for ten years without issues.”
Thermal data turned into insight
Drone Systems delivers complete, high-precision thermal surveys of district heating networks. The collected data is processed and presented via a cloud-based platform, identifying both existing leaks and potential future risks.
As a first mover in Denmark, Drone Systems continues to lead in data quality, precision, and usability. Each operation is meticulously planned — often in cooperation with authorities — with safety as a top priority.
33,675 km mapped – 2,375 leaks found
District heating networks are valuable but difficult to inspect. Leaks are costly yet hidden underground. Drone Systems’ technology ensures 100% coverage and pinpoints leaks with sub-meter accuracy.
In ten years, the company has:
- surveyed over 33,675 km of pipelines,
- located more than 2,375 leaks, and
- identified 9,150 early-stage heat losses.
By mapping the real network, Drone Systems helps utilities correct outdated records, target repairs, and reduce both costs and emissions.
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About Drone Systems
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Aarhus, Drone Systems is Denmark’s most experienced operator of thermal drone inspections for the district heating industry. The company’s operations and analytics platform help utilities reduce water and energy losses and increase reliability.
Further information:
Gina Nielsen, Head of Sales and Marketing, Drone Systems
+45 2068 5500
gina.nielsen@dronesystems.dk
https://dronesystems.dk/en/
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