EGP Innothon Challenge: Robots for Renewables

ABSTRACT

Enel Green Power (EGP) is a global leader in the development and management of energy production from renewable sources (wind, solar, hydroelectric, marine, and geothermal).

The Innothon challenge is focused on the realization of an autonomous robotic platform, capable of moving around renewable plants to carry out data collection, inspections, and small maintenance activities.

The Innothon Challenge is a unique opportunity for Europeans or those with a Student Schengen Visa based in Europe from 18 to 28 years old only to showcase their talent to Enel Green Power.

Individuals or teams consisting of up to 5 eligible members are allowed to participate.
 

- Login or register to start solving this Challenge! After logging in, click ‘View Challenge Details’ to submit your solution on the Enel Open Innovability® platform -
 

OVERVIEW

Over the last few years, we have pursued advances in various technologies, positioning EGP at the forefront of the energy transition. To reach our global future goal of zero emissions we will leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation robotics, advances that are helping to improve the performance and efficiency of renewable energy plants.

Combined with automated technologies, advanced robotics can be used to control and maintain equipment in renewable energy plants and reduce the need for human intervention, increasing overall efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.

The Innothon challenge seeks an autonomous robotic platform, capable of moving around renewable plants to carry out data collection, inspections, and small maintenance activities. 

The solution must be autonomous in fulfilling the missions, with a dashboard allowing an operator to define the mission goals for each specific task. Moreover, it should be equipped with AI features to support basic data analytics.

Your solutions

EGP is interested in the following use case applications for all or any of the renewable assets (solar, wind, storage, green hydrogen, hydro and geo):

• Inspection of electrical components and substation (to detect: electric arc, partial discharges, temperature hot spots and anomalies or defects in specific components)
• Surveillance and patrolling
• Small operations or maintenance activities: i.e. the robot can be equipped with a small robotic arm with gripper, remotely controlled by human operator, capable of e.g. moving a cable, checking bolts, ...

The Challenge will be undertaken in 4 phases:

Phase 1) Solvers will have until April 17, 2023 to prepare a proposal in response to the Challenge.

Phase 2) EGP will select the best proposals at its sole discretion and will provide a customized kit to each group selected from the RS catalogue (https://it.rs-online.com/web/) up to max 5.000€- and will evaluate case by case any additional tool necessary for the prototype realization.

Phase 3) Group members will then work on a prototype of the idea proposed, using the customized kit provided by EGP, within 2 months from the selection notification.

Phase 4) At the end of the prototype phase, the selected team will be invited to the Innovation Hub&Lab in Catania, Sicily, for prototype refining helped by EGP experts, using an advanced kit. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by EGP for this attendance. The event will take place for three days in July 2023.

 The submitted proposal should comprise:

• Technical report about the solution proposed with all the “must have” requirements
• Preliminary software code
• List of technical tools needed to produce the prototype
• Proposed CANVAS business model

Optional deliverables:

• Report all the 'must have’ and ‘nice to have’ requirements reached
• Schematic of project design

This Challenge provides a contribution to the following  Sustainable Development Goals: 

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13: Climate Action

For questions about the challenge and your proposal you can contact EnelOpenInnovabilityChallenges@wazoku.com

Explain your proposal clearly in English, attach documents (max 5 files, 25MB total size) if needed.

This is a Reduction to Practice Challenge that requires written documentation, experimental proof-of-concept data, and prototype delivery for the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the solution.

Individuals or teams consisting of up to 5 eligible members are allowed to participate.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (Central European Time) on April 17, 2023. 

Late submissions will not be considered.

After the Challenge due date, Enel will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions.

ABOUT THE SEEKER             

Enel is a multinational energy company and one of the world’s leading integrated electricity and gas operators. Enel works in more than 30 countries across five continents, generating energy with a total installed capacity of more than 89 GW, selling gas and distributing electricity across a network spanning approximately 2.2 million km.

With almost 75 million end users around the world, Enel has the biggest customer base among our European competitors, and we are one of Europe’s leading energy companies by installed capacity.

The Enel Group is made up of approximately 66,000 people from around the world who are working together on the same goal. We are Open Power and our aim is to overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world. This is to be achieved through a new approach which combines attention to sustainability with the best in innovation.

Enel is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that meet society’s changing needs. Through its openinnovability.com crowdsourcing platform, the company connects people and ideas from across the world, encouraging anyone to propose sustainable innovation projects and solutions that help develop local communities.

Enel is also committed to helping to achieve 4 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• 7 - Access to affordable and clean energy
• 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• 11- Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• 13 - The fight against climate change

Enel Green Power is the Enel Group brand focused on developing and managing renewable energy generation systems, with a global presence in 26 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania (active projects in 21 Countries while projects in development in 5 countries). Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector, operating more than 1,200 plants with a managed capacity of 564 GW across a generation mix which includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants. Enel Green Power is a strategic partner that enables communities, companies and end users to move towards sustainable living, driving the shift towards a decarbonized society and actively contributing to the development and wellbeing of the many geographical areas where it operates.

Enel Green Power applies the CSV (Creating Shared Value) Model, finding new business opportunities by solving social problems, combining competitiveness with the long-term sustainable value creation. Thanks to its research, technological innovation, internationally renowned operational excellence, and the hard work of its people, Enel Green Power looks to the future fully aware of its potential for growth, both in terms of additional capacity and operational performance.

Enel Green Power invests in new technologies to improve its flexibility and performance, such as the combination of technologies and sources in the same plant (hybridization), the integration between renewables with other sectors (agrivoltaics, green building, new materials etc.) and research to give plants’ components a new role once they reach the end-of-life stage. All these projects are conducted under the lens of Sustainability and Circular Economy.

With its international experience, Enel Green Power also develops custom projects to offer companies the best solutions when it comes to energy generated from renewable sources. Clean energy and sustainable projects, competitive costs and tailor-made solutions are the main benefits of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), tools that are capable of building strong, long-lasting partnerships with business and industrial clients. Enel Green Power is also one of the founding members of RES4Africa Foundation, the association founded in 2012 to promote renewable energies and the spread of know-how on the African continent.