Enel has deployed drone technologies from Convexum and Percepto for its 1,980MW Torrevaldaliga Nord power plant in Civitavecchia, Italy to support its operation, maintenance and protection.
Enrico Viale, Enel’s Head of Global Thermal Generation and Ernesto Ciorra, Enel’s Head of Innovability, opened the event, in the presence of local authorities.
Enel global thermal generation innovation head Nicola Rossi said: “Torrevaldaliga Nord is the first power plant in the world to use Convexum and Percepto systems, confirming Enel’s leading role in technological innovation.
“This cooperation generates positive impacts not only on the overall plant efficiency, but also on our workers, who can now operate the most advanced technologies, acquiring new skills along the way.
“The initiative is part of the wider digital transformation programme that the Enel Group is carrying out and that also involves the generation assets owned and operated by the company.”
The new platform consists of technological solutions developed by two Israeli start-ups partnering with Enel, which entered in contact with the Group through the network of Innovation Hubs Enel operates in various areas in Italy and abroad.
Enel innovation hubs head Fabio Tentori said: “Today we are seeing the concrete results of the cooperation between Enel and some of the most interesting start-ups at the international level. Enel supports entrepreneurship and technological research all over the world.
“This cooperation makes it possible to circulate ideas and integrate them with the needs of our business.”
The start-up CONVEXUM has developed a system which can prevent unauthorised drones from flying over the plant.
The start-up PERCEPTO has developed a drone capable of performing automated flight missions using sensors and computer vision algorithms and providing support for plant inspection and surveillance activities.
The drone is controlled from the plant’s operating room, where it is possible to have a complete real-time view of the entire area covered by flight operations.
The drone uses sensors to collect large amounts of images that are analysed in real time by using advanced video analysis algorithms.
Source: Company Press Release