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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ibnanv" data-source="post: 23419045" data-attributes="member: 218596">Flying robots that can travel dozens of kilometers without stopping could be the next big thing for power companies.  Workers  operate a drone to survey high-voltage power lines of electric company  Westnetz near Wilnsdorf, Germany.Utilities  in Europe are looking to long-distance drones to scour thousands of  miles of grids for damage and leaks in an attempt to avoid network  failures that cost them billions of dollars a year. However the  technology faces major safety and regulatory hurdles that are clouding  its future in the sector.  Snam (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SRG.MI" target="_blank">SRG.MI</a>) and EDF’s (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=EDF.PA" target="_blank">EDF.PA</a>)  network subsidiary RTE have tested prototypes of long-distance drones  that fly at low altitudes over pipelines and power lines.  Italy’s  Snam, Europe’s biggest gas utility, told Reuters it is trialing one of  these machines - known as BVLOS drones because they fly ‘beyond the  visual line of sight’ of operators - in the Apennine hills around Genoa.  It hopes to have it scouting a 20 km stretch of pipeline soon.  France’s  RTE has also tested a long-distance drone, which flew about 50 km  inspecting transmission lines and sent back data that allowed  technicians to virtually model a section of the grid. The company said  it would invest 4.8 million euros ($5.6 million) on drone technology  over the next two years.  At present, power companies largely use  helicopters equipped with cameras to inspect their networks. They have  also recently started occasionally using more basic drones that stay  within sight of controllers and have a range of only about 500 meters.  However  an industry-wide shift toward renewable energy, and the need to monitor  the myriad extra connections needed to link solar and wind parks to  grids, is forcing utilities to look at the advanced technology. “It’s  a real game changer,” Michal Mazur, partner at consultancy PwC, said of  drones. “They’re 100 times faster than manual measurement, more  accurate than helicopters and, with AI devices on board, could soon be  able to fix problems.” In-sight drones cost around 20,000 euros  each and BVLOS ones will cost significantly more, according to  executives at tech companies that make the machines for utilities, and a  fleet of dozens if not hundreds would be needed to monitor a network. Power  grid companies are expected to spend over $13 billion a year on drones  and robotics by 2026 globally, from about $2 billion now, according to  Navigant Research.  But that is still dwarfed by the amount of  money the sector loses every year because of network failures and forced  shutdowns - about $170 billion, according to PwC.  REGULATORY RISKS The  growing demand from utilities is coming at a time of swift  technological advances in civilian long-distance drones. The prototypes,  which are about a meter long and wide, not only have aircraft systems  but can avoid obstacles, detect other flying objects - from helicopters  to hang gliders - while mapping grids with thermal and infrared sensors.   However the future of these flying robots in the utility sector hinges on regulation.  BVLOS  drone flights are largely prohibited because of safety concerns.  However over the past year European watchdogs have for the first time  granted special permits to allow utilities – namely RTE and Snam – to  test prototypes.  The European Commission is working on new  Europe-wide regulations to govern the use of civilian drones, including  long-distance ones, but has disclosed few details. A Commission  source said the EU executive expected to put forward the rules by the  end of the year, with a view to adoption in early 2019. The new  regulations should make it simpler for companies that need to operate  BVLOS drones to receive clearance, the source said. “The objective is to speed up the opening of the drone services market,” the source added. Yet  without any clear guidance as to how the new rules will look, or will  work in practice, many companies have adopted a wait-and-see approach.</blockquote>

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