ESB Networks and Neara partner to reduce risk of climate-related power cuts

Ireland’s Asset Owner and Distribution System Operator, ESB Networks, has partnered with Neara, the leading AI infrastructure modelling platform, to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on energy supply and speed up the clean energy transition for millions of households through the innovative use of technology to identify and address risks across their network.

With the frequency and intensity of storms increasing across Ireland in recent years, ESB Networks is taking an innovative approach to climate-proof its network and protect its 2.4 million customers from the growing risk of weather-related power outages. Through this new partnership, ESB Networks is deploying Neara’s AI and digital modelling technology to transform the way they identify, evaluate, and address risks across their Transmission network spanning over 7,500km.

ESB is leveraging Neara’s technology to create a ‘digital twin’ model that maps all their infrastructure using high accuracy LiDAR down to the level of individual structures (poles, towers) and the conductors strung between them. For this reason, LiDAR data is essential in building the ‘digital twin’. Asset Managers, Risk managers as well as contractors, planners and engineers can then use the model to analyse and stress-test key parts of the network in granular detail within a simulated digital environment.

www.esbnetworks.ie