- Enables the generation of a complete digital twin of Endesa's grid using visual, thermal, and LiDAR data aligned in 3D.
- Authorised to fly up to a range of 10 kilometres, twenty times further than a conventional drone, reducing travel, risks for workers, costs, and emissions
Madrid/Pamplona, 30 March 2026. Endesa is reinforcing its commitment to the use of drones for the industrial inspection of its electricity grids in Spain. Endesa's distribution subsidiary, e-distribución, will be equipped with 17 long-range drones developed by the Navarre-based company FuVeX to carry out thermographic and digital inspections of lines using the latest technologies. The goal: to use long-range drones to take a leap forward in inspection and maintenance work, improving accuracy while reducing travel, risk to workers, and the carbon footprint.
The drones used are the first capable of meeting Endesa's technical requirements regarding data consistency and resolution capacity, achieving a new quality standard in the digitalisation and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
The expanded use of drones, which Endesa's networks subsidiary has been employing for years in grid supervision and maintenance work, is key to generating a complete digital twin of its electricity grids, a process initiated in 2023.
The aircraft designed by FuVeX allow for a complete three-dimensional alignment between visual, thermal, and LiDAR data – a technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create highly precise 3D maps and models. This means that each point in the 3D model generated by LiDAR corresponds exactly to a specific pixel in the visual and thermal images captured during the flight. This precise correlation allows for the construction of a complete digital representation of the power lines on which to apply multimodal artificial intelligence, opening the door to new automated analysis capabilities for the state of the grid.
Long-range drones to inspect critical infrastructure
e-distribución, Spain's largest electricity distributor, manages a grid of over 320,000 kilometres of power lines, whose periodic inspection is key to guaranteeing system safety and continuity of electricity supply.
The incorporation of long-range drones represents a significant change in the way information about these infrastructures is captured by e-distribución's Maintenance and Technical Support department. Compared to traditional methods – based on foot patrols or manned helicopter inspections – the new systems enable high-precision data to be captured more efficiently, reducing operational risks, costs, and emissions.
The drones developed by FuVeX are authorised to operate at distances of up to 10 kilometres, a range up to twenty times greater than that of conventional drones, making it possible to cover large sections of the grid in a single operation and capture high-resolution geospatial information.
The project's true technological leap lies in the ability to generate complete digital twins of electrical infrastructure.
Until now, drone inspections captured different types of data – visual images, thermal information, or LiDAR scans – but these data sets were not always correlated with each other. The system developed by FuVeX allows all these information sources to be integrated into a single, coherent three-dimensional model.
This advancement allows for the application of artificial intelligence algorithms capable of:
- Detecting anomalies.
- Analysing the condition of grid components.
- Anticipating potential incidents.
- Optimising the predictive maintenance of electricity grids.
In this way, the project and its industrial validation also represent a decisive step in positioning Spain and Europe as benchmarks in the industrial use of long-range drones in critical sectors. FuVeX, which has over 70 professionals and eight registered patents, has developed the first European technology authorised for inspections beyond the visual line of sight, following four years of work to obtain the corresponding aeronautical certification and its participation in R&D projects such as H2Dron and FreeDrone.
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an integrated business model spanning electricity generation, distribution, and supply. Furthermore, the company offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use for households, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations’ SDGs and corporate social responsibility. In the latter area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our team comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.