Enel and ESA to Foster Energy Security and Space Applications of Energy

Enel and the European Space Agency (ESA) are cooperating to promote the development of space-applications in support of energy security as well as economic and environmental sustainability.

Through this cooperation, in the first half of 2020, Enel and ESA will be launching a joint initiative related to a circular economy and aimed at fostering the development of innovative services combining space data and other technology to monitor public lighting, building efficiency and traffic flow, seeking to improve mobility and environmental sustainability in cities.

“The space and energy sectors have always been at the forefront of technology and innovation and we are working together, with the aim to boost sustainability in our cities and infrastructure, protecting the wider environment while creating shared value for us and our stakeholders. Enel is committed to renewable energy and circular economy, as we see them as the drivers to increase living standards in our communities,” said Ernesto Ciorra, Enel’s chief innovability officer.

In addition to circular economy, the main areas of interest identified by Enel through this partnership encompass applications of space technologies, including satellite data, in electricity network distribution, with a view to (i) reduce technical risks, such as the interference of vegetation with overhead power lines, as well as (ii) to optimise energy services in distribution and generation.

Magali Vaissiere, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, added “working with Enel gives us the opportunity to foster the development of space applications for the energy sector and in the context of circular cities. We are confident that this cooperation will unlock significant business opportunities for European Industry, and will showcase the potential of space to deliver solutions with environmental and socio-economic benefits at scale.”

Enel is already supporting ESA in the studies assessing the viability of satellite-based services in support of smart grids and electricity grid maintenance. The goal is to further improve distribution service and field operations in Europe and South America.