Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 05:34 pm
BKW Energie AG, the operator of Switzerland’s largest electricity distribution system, have announced a five-year program to digitalize and automate their current visual inspection process to a complete Artificial Intelligence (AI) image-based virtual inspection.
The program, which will focus on the high voltage distribution grid with a focus on wood, steel and concrete structures, will utilize eSmart Systems’ Grid Vision® solution to improve the speed and quality of the virtual inspection process, as well as reduce the need for field visits.
“We are delighted to partner with BKW Energie and our technology will support their vision of a running a more sustainable and resilient power grid,” said Henrik Bache, CEO at eSmart Systems.
Martin Rieder, Head of Asset Information Management at BKW Energie, commented: “Our ambition is to become a distribution system operator managing a highly efficient power grid, transforming our inspection process is getting us one step closer to our digitalization journey and enabling us to obtain accurate and reliable asset data that can be utilized for key decision making. Grid Vision® stood out as an industry leading solution and is an operational ready AI solution we expect to bring value from day 1.”
The Grid Vision® solution delivers automation from day one through the 40+ AI models that are already trained on over 15 million global images, and will enable BKW Energie to transition their inspection processes to condition-based asset maintenance over time with the use of Grid Vision® Insight.
BKW Energie AG is the operator of Switzerland’s largest electricity distribution system, providing electricity to one million people in their supply area via 22,000 km of lines and 188,000 grid connections. Through their partnership with eSmart Systems, they are looking to achieve a more efficient and sustainable power grid.
