EDP, an electrical energy distributor from the state of Espírito Santo, today launched the country’s first unmanned power line surveillance program. The operation will use latest generation drones to inspect energy assets in the Company’s Distribution and Transmission areas across Espírito Santo. The Company’s first operational drone flight will take place at the Espírito Santo Flying Club, in Vila Velha.

At the SIAD-AERO project (Autonomous-Cooperative Energy Asset Inspection Planning and Implementation System) is regulated by Aneel and uses a platform equipped with several sensors fixed to drones that have fixed and rotary wings. This technology will generate and process images in order to identify potential issues with the power grid. Following analysis, EDP’s mobile support units will be able to gather data from the cameras.

Using artificial intelligence algorithms, the drones can also rapidly and accurately diagnose the best maintenance plan for substations and networks, streamlining operators’ maintenance windows and mitigating operational risks.

“Implementing this project across the Company’s operations will reduce grid inspection times by up to a quarter, positively impacting the quality and safety of services to customers”, said João Brito Martins, Director at EDP Espírito Santo.

At the initiative will benefit more than 1.5 million EDP customers in Espírito Santo, ensuring greater power supply efficiency. The new technology will optimize development of quality indices required by several regulatory bodies, such as the DEC (Equivalent Duration of Interruptions by Consumer Unit) and the FEC (Equivalent Frequency of Interruptions by Consumer Unit), which represents the average amount of time and frequency that customers face power outages over a 12-month period.

EDP’s figures are well within the limits set by Aneel in both cases. Brazilian customers currently face 14.35 hours of power outages annually. In Espírito Santo, for example, customers went 8.11 hours without electricity in the year to November.

UNIQUE IN BRAZIL

EDP is the first company in the electricity industry to use autonomous drone systems to monitor and analyze power lines. “We are always aware of new and innovative technologies that can improve our services and consequently increase customer satisfaction. This project will increase inspection efficiency, guaranteeing network quality and power supplies”, said João Brito Martins, director at EDP in Espirito Santo.

At the drones are installed with high-resolution cameras with infrared, ultraviolet and ultrasound capabilities in order to automatically generate reports after the survey ends. EDP will deploy two drones in the State that can carry out cooperative flights to provide the system with highly detailed analyses.

At the aircraft are part of the only project in Brazil certified by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) and the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel).