Storm damages to power lines will be resolved faster in the future.

Finnish energy company Järvi-Suomen Energia, who distributes electricity for over 100 000 customers in Finland’s lake district, tested in cooperation with Estonian technology company Hepta Airborne, an innovative way to monitor power lines after a storm. Testing took place in Mikkeli. 

Järvi-Suomen Energia tested a faster and more efficient solution than conventional methods used worldwide to detect post-storm damages. In cooperation with the technology company Hepta Airborne, the performance of power lines was tested with drones.

Storm-inspection with drones provides multiple benefits over on-foot or other methods. The use of drones makes processes more than two times faster than on foot, and it is significantly safer as there is no need to walk under the power lines.

“We are interested in taking into use new opportunities with the best quality and speed. It is essential for us to ensure the permanent availability of electricity for our customers. Reducing power outage time is one of the priorities”, said Tomi Öster, said Business Development Manager at Järvi-Suomen Energia.

The wind, which blows twenty meters per second, is not an obstacle to the Hepta drone rising into the air. Hepta Airborne`s CEO Henri Klemmer claimed that Hepta is the only one in the Nordics providing real-time storm surveillance 24/7, regardless of whether it is night time, high wind, or heavy snow. “Our drone has two special strengths. Its wind resistance is strong, and it can fly for three hours at a time”, introduced Hepta`s CEO Henri Klemmer aircraft`s functionality.

Estonian AI-driven technology company Hepta Airborne automates the analysis of power lines by utilizing drones, helicopters, satellites, and big data analysis. The AI-driven software “uBird” finds defects and potential risks to prevent future failures and save costs and time. In-house built unmanned airborne systems cover an average of 10x more distance both daytime and nighttime while withstanding harsh weather conditions.

Additional services include real-time fast response storm damage detection while conducting over 90% of daily flights in Beyond Visual Line of Sight. The company has been trusted to digitize more than 40,000 kilometers of power line networks in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania, Denmark, and Sweden. Hepta is supported by EIT InnoEnergy, the innovation engine for sustainable energy across Europe, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Järvi-Suomen Energia distributes electricity for over 100 000 customers in Finland’s lake district. They operate in the lake district – an area filled with countless lakes, islands, capes, and hollows. For an electricity network, this location offers challenges, unlike any other. By continuously developing its network, Järvi-Suomen is improving the living conditions of the region.

You can find drone video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojqKtAay_ZA&feature=youtu.be

Home pages heptaairborne.com and jseoy.fi/en