Iberdrola turns to Finnish satellite technology from ICEYE to strengthen its power networks against extreme weather

Iberdrola has selected satellite technology developed by Finnish company ICEYE for an innovation project designed to make its electricity networks more resilient to extreme weather events. Using near real-time geospatial data, the solution will help the company anticipate risks, assess damage more quickly and minimise disruption to electricity supplies.

The technology, which won a New-Tech Challenge organised through PERSEO, Iberdrola's international open innovation programme, will initially be deployed through a pilot project in Spain. The competition attracted more than 40 proposals from ten countries.

During the pilot, ICEYE's constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites will provide continuous monitoring of selected areas, enabling Iberdrola to anticipate and track events such as floods, wildfires and high winds. The satellites can capture images around the clock, regardless of weather conditions.

By providing rapid, objective assessments, even when affected areas are difficult to access, Iberdrola will be able to identify the most heavily impacted assets, deploy repair crews more efficiently and restore electricity supplies more quickly.

Iberdrola operates more than 1.4 million kilometres of transmission and distribution lines across several countries, serving millions of customers.

Building on the experience gained in Spain, the programme will also give Iberdrola access to ICEYE's rapid damage assessment capabilities for hurricanes affecting its assets in the United States and Australia, with detailed damage maps available within 24 hours of an event.

Gonzalo García-Muñoz, Senior Vice-President of Global Operations and CEO of ICEYE Spain, said: "This collaboration enables us to integrate satellite intelligence into network operations, identify risks earlier and accelerate the restoration of electricity supplies in affected areas."

Óscar Villanueva, Director of the Western Region at i-DE Smart Grids, Iberdrola's distribution business in Spain, said: "Strengthening the resilience of our electricity networks is one of our top priorities. This collaboration allows us to incorporate advanced observation and analytical capabilities that help us anticipate extreme weather events, minimise their impact on customers and build a more resilient electricity system for the future."