- Endesa is using drones, robots and nano robots in the daily operations in its renewable installations, from solar to wind and hydraulics, and for this it enjoys the support of start-ups around the world.
Renewable plants go beyond the production of clean energy, they are also becoming an experimental centre for the most innovative business fabric, involving start-ups from all over the world that searching for and proposing solutions for the daily activities of these installations.
Endesa has 12 start-ups focussing on the development of robotic solutions, and is collaborating with them in its solar, wind and hydraulic renewable energy plants in Spain. So far this year the company, through its renewable energy subsidiary Enel Green Power Spain, is using drones and robots and their functions include inspecting and cleaning installations, as well as improving infrastructures.
A specific example is Endesa's solar plant in Totana (Murcia) which has become an experimental centre for many of these technologies. Drones have been used to monitor the status of the panels, and different technologies are being experimented with for the automatic cleaning of solar panels, an essential task to improve the performance of the installations.
Totana is also a pioneer in the experimentation of measures to safeguard biodiversity with agrivoltaic crops sown between its panels and an ecological corridor of 8 hectares that enables the preservation of native species such as the Dartford warbler and the little bustard, species in danger of becoming threatened. Local grazing is also the method used for clearing the land naturally, a practice that Endesa is extending throughout its solar installations, but in cases where this is not viable due to access or security issues, innovation once again becomes an important factor.
In this regard, Endesa is collaborating with start-ups around the world to experiment with autonomous robots powered by solar energy, which enable land to be cleared in areas where access is difficult. This methodology is being validated at the Guadarranque photovoltaic solar plant in Cádiz where it is a more sustainable alternative than using herbicides.
"Endesa firmly believes in innovation, and that is why we are continuously looking for start-ups and entities that will enable us to provide innovative and more sustainable solutions to the challenges that we face every day in our sector," said Andrés Sánchez-Biezma, Head of Generation Innovation at Endesa.
But experiments are not only being made in the solar sector, in the wind sector Endesa is using state-of-the-art robots to inspect the infrastructures. Specifically, a climbing robot is being used that has a magnetic system to climb up the shaft of wind turbine that can be up to 100 metres high, and check the state of the joint welds on the tower. A job that will greatly improve the time taken and the safety of the people who work in the operation and maintenance of these installations. This technology has been validated at the wind plants of Chan do Tenón in Galicia and Valdihuelo in Avila together with the Madrid-based company Scisa, with great success so far.
Another extremely innovative initiative that Endesa is using in its installations is the use of robots for the exterior and interior inspection of wind turbine blades. These multifunction robots would once again make the job easier for the infrastructure inspection teams, reducing lost time for the installation and increasing the safety of workers.
Endesa is also making use of the latest innovations in its hydraulic installations. Specifically in the Moncabril plants between Zamora and Orense, Nuevo Chorro in Málaga and Guillena in Seville, Endesa is working with Spanish start-ups, such as Hovering Solutions and ATES Technologies for the inspection of ducts and underground installations with autonomous navigation drones and remotely controlled land vehicles. Remote controlled underwater vehicles are also being used to inspect submerged infrastructures.
"These systems are giving us greater flexibility, they enable us to enter areas where before it was very difficult and risky to enter undertake inspections, they are devices that make our daily work so much easier," says Sánchez Biezma, who pointed out that "there is so much talent in Spain and throughout the world, we need to take advantage of it and work together".
About Endesa
Endesa is the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. The company is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an end-to-end business from generation to marketing and through Endesa X also offers value-added services aimed at the decarbonisation of energy uses in homes, companies, industries and public administrations. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations SDGs and therefore strongly supports the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the electrification of the economy and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our workforce numbers around 9,600 employees. Endesa is a division of Enel, the largest electricity group in Europe.