Ready to Scale Your Wireless Sensor Solution?

Thank you for your applications!

the startup challenge by

Iberdrola has more than 400,000 Secondary Substations in the United States, Brazil, UK, and Spain. These centers house more than 1.5 million medium-to-low voltage distribution transformers, built and operated to provide a high quality and reliable service to a total of 31 million electricity supply points. The digitization of its network allows Iberdrola to have new sensor equipment in the substations to monitor the conditions of the installation and critical equipment, such as medium-voltage switchgear, the medium-low voltage transformer, the low-voltage panels, and the digital equipment itself.

Sensor data on substations enable preventive maintenance, the early detection of anomalies and serious incidents, as well as possible breakdowns. The digitization equipment is being designed with the capacity to install the new sensors using Plug & Play architecture and with the possibility of wireless connection. Your sensor solution may detect smoke, carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, flooding, tightening of connection terminals, intrusion, or voltage/current, among others. Sensors that integrate optical and/or thermographic cameras, data processing, and alarm management are also interesting.

In this context, Iberdrola, through its PERSEO Startup Program, is looking for solutions that enable the early detection of incidents in installations and equipment through Plug & Play sensors communicated by Zigbee in the substations, with the aim of reducing the impact of incidents on supply and on the installations themselves. Iberdrola is seeking the following:

Sensors that enable the early detection of serious incidents in substations, such as flood, fire, intrusion, safety, etc.

Sensors that integrate with edge computing, thermal infrared, IoT, AI, Computer Vision, or Plug & Play systems, among others

Sensors that integrate with current monitoring systems – BT RTU / Zigbee

Sensors based on optical and/or thermographic cameras as well as integrated data processing capabilities.

The challenge is launched within the new Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub framework. Iberdrola will make the Hub a worldwide grid benchmark, through open collaboration and co-working between i-DE technicians, suppliers, startups, and different organizations worldwide. This challenge is also open to proposals that do not fit this case study. Such solutions will also be analyzed, provided that the competitive advantages of the proposal for a specific type of site are clearly explained.

Winning this Challenge will award you with signing a collaboration agreement for the development of a Proof-of-Concept (PoC). The PoC will be developed in collaboration with the technical specialists from Iberdrola Networks. Additionally, PERSEO covers the costs of the pilot activities and provides you with the necessary technical support, giving access to infrastructure and real data to test your solution.

Pilot Project

Sign a collaboration agreement with Iberdrola and/or PERSEO. The project costs are covered & you will get full technical support to test your solution.

New Clients

If the pilot project succeeds, Iberdrola and/or PERSEO will add your solutions to its service territory and relevant companies within the group.

Scaling

If the pilot succeeds, Iberdrola and/or PERSEO may offer you the opportunity to scale up your solution by means of commercial agreements.

Possible Investment

PERSEO, the risk capital vehicle of Iberdrola, might consider investing in the winner’s solution as well.

Your solution will also be included directly in the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hubs registration process, as a collaborator and able to benefit from the services, activities, and resources that the GSGI Hub makes available.

Timeline

18th November 2022
Applications Open

19th December 2022
Application Deadline

February 2023

Evaluation

2023

Pilot Project

Contact Joela Elezi
joela@startus-insights.com

For more information, click here to check all of the Iberdrola Startup Challenges to find innovative solutions.

FAQs

See our responses to some of the most common questions or view our Terms & Conditions.

What is the background of this Challenge?

Iberdrola has more than 400,000 Secondary Substations in the United States, Brazil, UK, and Spain. These centers house more than 1.5 million medium-to-low voltage distribution transformers, built and operated to provide a high quality and reliable service to a total of 31 million electricity supply points. The digitization of its network allows Iberdrola to have new sensor equipment in the substations to monitor the conditions of the installation and critical equipment, such as medium-voltage switchgear, the medium-low voltage transformer, the low-voltage panels, and the digital equipment itself.

Sensor data on substations enable preventive maintenance, the early detection of anomalies and serious incidents, as well as possible breakdowns. The digitization equipment is being designed with the capacity to install the new sensors using Plug & Play architecture and with the possibility of wireless connection. Your sensor solution may detect smoke, carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, flooding, tightening of connection terminals, intrusion, or voltage/current, among others. Sensors that integrate optical and/or thermographic cameras, data processing, and alarm management shall be proposed along with your sensor system.

In this context, Iberdrola, through its PERSEO Startup Program, is looking for solutions that enable the early detection of incidents in installations and equipment through Plug & Play sensors communicated by Zigbee in the substations, with the aim of reducing the impact of incidents on supply and on the installations themselves.

Why are Iberdrola and/or PERSEO the right partners for my company?

Iberdrola is no stranger to working with startups and emerging companies - over the last two years, the Group has launched over 20 Startup Challenges to address pressing issues in today's energy networks.

Moreover, working with Iberdrola presents a unique opportunity:

Winning this Challenge will award you with signing a collaboration agreement for the development of a Proof-of-Concept (PoC). The PoC will be developed in collaboration with the technical specialists from Iberdrola Networks.

Additionally, PERSEO covers the costs of the pilot activities and provides you with the necessary technical support, giving access to infrastructures and real data to test your solution.

Finally, PERSEO may consider investing in your solution!

What solutions are you looking for?

Iberdrola is looking for wireless sensor solutions that consider the following:

• Early detection of serious incidents and anomalies
• Technology integration with edge computing, AI, camera, computer vision, etc.
• Plug & Play monitoring system that integrates with BT RTU and Zigbee
• Optical or thermographic cameras and integrated data processing capabilities

The Startup Challenge is accepting applications from all startups making sensors that serve the general purpose of detecting tightening of connection terminals, smoke, CO2, intrusion, natural calamities like floods, as well as measuring temperature, humidity, and voltage, among others.

Moreover, when assessing your proposal, Iberdrola also analyzes sensor solutions that leverage the following technologies:

• Thermal Infrared
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Computer Vision
• Edge Computing

What are the Challenge's key benefits for me?

Your benefits include:

• Collaboration Agreement & Pilot Test: The prize for the winner consists of a collaboration and test agreement with PERSEO or any other Iberdrola group company. The group will support the cost of the pilot activities.

• Access-all-Areas: Iberdrola will provide the winner with all necessary technical support, as well as a site and real data to test the solution. This includes access to equipment, teams, infrastructure, high technology sites, and shared work areas.

• Scale Your Technology: If the pilot test is satisfactory, Iberdrola may offer the winner the opportunity to scale up the solution by adapting it through commercial agreements.

• Investment: What's more, PERSEO will consider investing in the participating company and/or the winner of the challenge.

Your solution will also be included directly in the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hubs registration process, as a collaborator and able to benefit from the services, activities, and resources that the GSGI Hub makes available.

What do I need to know about the Pilot Project?

The winner of the challenge will sign a partnership contract with Iberdrola and/or PERSEO and will be able to test their solution in a real environment.

For the collaboration of the pilot project, Iberdrola will:

• Assume the costs of the collaboration and the proof of concept
• Provide the necessary technical support to test the solution proposed
• Give access to equipment, appliances, infrastructure, high technology sites, and joint work areas
• Provide a real environment and real data to test the solution

The project will be developed in collaboration with technical specialists from Iberdrola Networks.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

You are welcome to submit more than one proposal, just make sure to submit a separate application form for each proposal.

When is the application deadline?

The application period for this challenge ends on 19th December 2022.

How will the applications be evaluated?

While evaluating your proposals, Iberdrola will consider the following value propositions, among others:

• The maturity, reliability, and scalability of the solution, including hardware (sensors), and software/algorithm for both equipment management and data processing to generate warnings.
• The simplicity of installation (Plug & Play), maintenance, and autonomy (low consumption/self-powered).
• Integration with current monitoring systems (BT RTU / Zigbee).
• The total cost, both initial and recurrent.
• Application in other energy assets, such as overhead lines.