Enea Operator uses drones to inspect the grid

Use of Drones at Enea Operator – A Step Toward Automation and Precision Infrastructure Monitoring

Enea Operator is consistently advancing cutting-edge technologies in the operation and supervision of power grid infrastructure, including the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The company views drones not only as an inspection tool but as an integral component of the future architecture for network asset management.

Currently, drones support the full scope of technical service operations—from standard infrastructure inspections and diagnostics using thermal imaging cameras to participation in emergency response following extreme weather events.

To date, Enea Operator has trained 50 UAV operators across all distribution branches, each of whom has obtained state certification. Through centralized procurement processes, a total of 91 drones have been acquired—50 lightweight units (up to 250 g) and 41 drones for more demanding tasks (up to 920 g), 7 of which are equipped with specialized thermal imaging cameras. These solutions are complemented by product-specific training provided by licensed suppliers, ensuring the maintenance of high operational standards.

It is also worth noting that Enea is undertaking pilot initiatives aimed at integrating UAVs with IMS-class systems and applying artificial intelligence algorithms for automatic identification of infrastructure components and GIS data updates.

This represents a clear direction of development—from individual inspection flights to comprehensive, integrated grid monitoring in near real time.

Source https://www.enea.pl