Enel Grids Innovation Scouting 2023

Overview

Enel Grids, the Seeker for this Challenge, invites innovators from around the globe in finding robotic or autonomous solutions across four Grid Innovation Challenge use cases in this Innovation Marketplace Challenge.

Your proposals could provide any possible solution in these areas:

1. Collaboration between workers and robots during operations in primary substations
2. Autonomous robotic solution for anti-Icing applications on overhead conductors 
3. Autonomous infrastructure inspections in inaccessible areas during extreme weather events
4. Microrobot technologies to support inspections on overhead and underground lines

If you have a solution to improve the grid, with a particular focus on primary substations, overhead conductors, infrastructure inspections, and overhead/underground lines, join this Challenge!
 

This Challenge is seeking partners or suppliers to provide systems or expertise to help solve various Enel Grids’ business challenges; Solvers are invited to submit a written proposal to be evaluated by Enel Grids with the goal of establishing a collaborative partnership.

-Login or register your interest to start collaborating -

About the Seeker & Eligibility

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.

Enel Grids is the global business line in charge of steering and coordinating the electricity transmission and distribution activities of Enel Group in 8 Countries (Europe and South America). For 20 years it's been committed to creating a knowledge ecosystem for developing network digitalization and now is the benchmark in terms of smart metering, thanks to the nearly 45 million smart meters installed on our electricity grids throughout the world, designing new automation systems for distribution networks in order to meet the growing demand for energy.
 

The Challenge is open to anyone inside or outside the Enel Group, such as Enel employees, startups, individual innovators, big corporations, etc.
 

Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.

The Challenge

Improving the grid is of paramount importance to ensure the energy supply of the future is forward-thinking, sustainable, and efficient. To that end, Enel’s Grid Innovation 2023 project has several specific topic areas that are of interest:

1. Collaboration between workers and robots during operations in primary substations

We are looking for a solution to lighten the load of workers (locally and/or remotely) in relevant maintenance activities, improving their safety, the quality of the work, and productivity by performing operational tasks in primary substations. The solution could entail collaboration between workers and the proposed technology/robotic solution.
 

2. Autonomous robotic solution for anti-Icing applications on overhead conductors 

We are seeking an autonomous robotic solution, capable of working on energized lines without interrupting grid services, for applying anti-icing coatings on overhead conductors (various diameters) in medium voltage grids. Advanced features would be appreciated, such as line inspections, real-time status reporting, basic maintenance tasks, and it should be designed as an upgradeable platform for continuous improvements.
 

3. Autonomous infrastructure inspections in inaccessible areas during extreme weather events

We are looking for a small, adaptable solution that can carry out ground inspections during or after extreme weather conditions in overhead lines, underground lines, and power stations (primary and secondary substations). The solution should be able to dive, climb, work on rough ground to carry out proper inspections in areas that are under water, affected by landslides, or areas that workers can’t reach physically. 
 

4. Microrobot technologies to support inspections on overhead and underground lines

We are looking for small, adaptable microrobot solutions that can carry out inspections on both overhead and underground lines. The solution should perform proper inspections in small, narrow spaces that are not easily accessible or for overhead activities that are risky and not easy to be carried out by workers.

Background

Enel Grids’ commitment to involving innovators is longstanding, and the Grid Innovation Challenges are a fresh way for Solvers to help Enel find solutions!

The Grid Scouting 2023 project applies to any possible solution in the above topic areas, that will contribute to Enel Grids’ three primary innovation drivers:

• Safety & Operational Excellence – innovative solutions and tools for the operation and maintenance of the distribution grid in order to increase personnel safety and efficiency
• Sustainable Design & Resilience – new solutions related to sustainable materials/technologies for the grid to achieve Net Zero goals and ensure operational resilience
• Flexibility & New Business Opportunities – technologies to enable flexibility services provided by customers and new actors to the distribution grid, and identification of new services based on DSO data and infrastructure

Submit your solution in this Challenge if it meets these drivers, will improve the operation of the energy distribution grid, and involves any of the topics listed in ‘The Challenge’ section.

This Challenge contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to transform our world: 

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being 
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy 
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Solution Requirements & Acceptance Criteria

In this Innovation Marketplace Challenge, Enel Grids are looking for any possible solutions across the 4 Challenge areas, including submissions, tools, new materials, technologies, services, start-ups, identification, and more.

Solutions are encouraged that meet safety & operational excellence goals, incorporate sustainable design, improve grid resilience, and can provide flexibility and new business opportunities for Enel Grids and the Enel Group.

The Solution Requirements against which your submission will be evaluated involve the scientific and technical feasibility of your solution, conducted by Enel Grids.

This Innovation Marketplace Challenge has the following features:

1. Enel Grids will evaluate your submission to determine their interest to contact you for further business and collaboration discussions.
2. If further contact is requested, you can negotiate the terms of the contract (including scope of work, tasks and duration) directly with Enel Grids.
3. The monetary value of any contract will vary depending on the amount of work to be delivered and the agreed upon time frame.
4. Enel Grids may subsequently directly request that certain IP arrangements are agreed should a partnership be pursued.
5. Any confidentiality and intellectual property rights in your Proposed Solution will be managed in accordance with the Challenge Agreement for this Challenge.

Your Submission

Please login and register your interest to complete the submission form, providing as much information as possible.  

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

Wazoku will complete the first stage of the review process and all Solvers will receive notification of the status of their submission and feedback within 60 days after the Challenge due date.

Selected submissions will be shared with Enel Grids during the second stage, and Solvers who submit the most valuable solutions according to Enel Grids, in accordance with the criteria set forth above, will be rewarded with the possibility of negotiating a collaboration agreement with Enel Grids or another Enel Group company. Neither Enel Grids nor any other Enel Group company has an obligation to initiate a collaboration with any of the proposers.

Submissions developed solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on October 1st, 2023. Late submissions will not be considered.