Pilot projects
We conduct more than 25 pilot tests of new technologies per year as a gateway to establishing collaborations
As part of the Iberdrola - PERSEO 'Start-ups' programme, we carry out pilot projects with different companies to test the new technologies and business models they offer, always aligned with the areas of interest of our businesses. These pilot tests in real environments are a preliminary step in the search for emerging companies with which to establish business relationships.
Since 2017, more than 2 million euros have been dedicated to pilot tests in technologies related to Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) or the blockchain, among others.
Every year, Iberdrola conducts more than 25 pilot tests with start-ups, in which it tests innovative technologies in order to assess the viability of their implementation in business. This is an excellent preliminary phase to identify those technological companies with which to establish a longer-term commercial or collaboration relationship or even an investment through PERSEO, fostering the culture of innovation.
By the end of 2022, PERSEO had carried out more than 100 pilots, applicable to the different businesses of the Iberdrola group worldwide. These real tests, or pilot projects, give emerging companies the opportunity to test their technology in a real environment, as well as to have access to large volumes of useful data and knowledge for testing, in addition to the possibility of moving up through trade agreements or future developments.
Since this activity began in 2017, more than €2 million have been dedicated to these pilot projects, which have addressed technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain. This investment has had a positive impact on businesses, mainly in the form of savings, increased competitiveness, efficiency, and company positioning.
Latest pilot highlights
Some of the latest examples of new technologies and solutions successfully tested through PERSEO's pilot projects and which have subsequently been incorporated for the optimisation of processes and activities developed by Iberdrola's businesses.
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NETWORKS
Automa
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Brazilian start-up Automa won the challenge in search of innovative solutions to identify and reduce non-technical losses in the distribution network in general, promoted by the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, the company has carried out a proof of concept to identify these types of losses in the Neoenergia grid through the use of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins.
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NETWORKS
FuVeX
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Spain's FuVeX, in collaboration with i-DE, is analysing and testing the use of BVLOS (Beyond the Visual Line of Sight) drones to efficiently capture data from power lines, either in regular inspections or in emergency situations, for example after a storm.
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COMMERCIAL
SwitchFleet
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The Spanish company SwitchFleet, which won the challenge focused on electric vehicle fleet planning, has developed a tool that will allow our Smart Mobility team to advise our customers on the transition to electrified fleets, as well as the sizing of the corresponding charging infrastructure, both depending on the type of use of the vehicles by the customer.
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RENEWABLES
XmartSense
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XmartSense has tested with Iberdrola a wireless, self-powered sensor capable of measuring temperature, humidity, pressure and other parameters to improve the monitoring of wind turbines in wind farms and thus anticipate and avoid catastrophic failures. This solution was the winner of the Start-up Challenge Wind turbine monitoring and represents a significant saving compared to that offered by the company that manufactures the original product for the fleet.
