Description

BACKGROUND

Periodic tree pruning comes with high associated costs in all countries and it is difficult to schedule it due to the unknown growth speed of different plants. This uncertainty makes standard tree maintenance plans expensive. Because of this, a new need arises: the optimization of vegetation maintenance activities through the use of data collection and monitoring systems, to decide the proper trimming frequency for each area as a function of its peculiar kind of vegetation.

The ambition of this Challenge is to automate as much as possible the field data collection activity and to identify, with high precision and low costs, the species of vegetation and obstacles around the lines using the obtained information. Today this task is performed in a semi-automated way: helicopter assessments and local verifications.

THE CHALLENGE

Enel is looking for suppliers to provide specific techniques/HW/SW to allow the acquisition of data about vegetation and any possible obstacle (buildings, scaffoldings, …) which is in the surrounding area of the lines and can constitute a safety threat for the infrastructure and the obstacle itself, such information with the objective of reducing as much as possible human intervention and related costs. Expected benefits of the system include:

• Optimisation of vegetation trimming activities considering the peculiarities of each area;
• Reduction of maintenance costs as a consequence of the above mentioned benefit;
• Scheduled vegetation trimming on demand;
• Reduction and adjustment of trimming costs according to the real work done by subcontractors;
• Better control over the externalized work;
• Being able to advise timely if any threat for the infrastructure can impact operation.

In general, the Data Collection and Monitoring system must satisfy the following Solution Requirements:

• Collect vegetation data in a cost-efficient way (less expensive than taking pictures using helicopters) but with a quality level sufficient for analysis;
• Identify the different arboreal species using the above mentioned data;
• Identify any obstacle which can constitute a threat to the lines and devices of the grid, including building, provisional scaffolding …;
• Limit as much as possible human intervention;
• Improve the following Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
  • OPerational EXpenses (OPEX) reduction/increase*;
  • Number of failure events on the overhead lines due to vegetation;
  • Number of incidents due to lack of guard distances.

*the use of this system could lead to an increase of the trimming activities w.r.t. the current periodical interventions. Even if in this case maintenance costs would increase, failure events due to vegetation could be avoided.

• Any proposed solution should have at least TRL 4 (Technology Readiness Level), which means: design, development and lab testing of components / processes. Results provide evidence that performance targets may be based on projected or modeled systems.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

The submitted proposals should include:

1. Video - it is appreciated if the Solvers will submit a video that summarises the proposal and allows Enel to do a quick initial screening of proposals
2. Collaboration Proposal including:
   1. A description of the proposed data collection and monitoring system with an explanation of how the Solver proposes to address all the Solution Requirement. The Solver can withhold proprietary information, if necessary, but should provide convincing evidence for ENEL to appreciate the merits of the approach and be comfortable that the solution can effectively work;
   2. A brief discussion of capabilities and relevant prior experience that are relevant for the development of the solution and success of the post-Challenge collaboration;
   3. The Solver should explain what they can provide and what might be required of the Seeker. For example: “I can provide with the expertise, but I would need the Seeker to facilitate access to data”;
   4. A brief overview of the proposed path forward along with a plan for validation (e.g. deliverables, timelines, milestones, and cost estimates);
   5. The Solver should indicate the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of the solution.
3. General Information about the Solver including:
   1. The key contact person for this Challenge (including phone number and email address). 
   2. Organization/Company name and address (including website, if available)

(NOTE: For most Challenges, Solvers are not allowed to include personal contact information; however, for an eRFP Challenge, it is required.)

Challenge rules

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge. The Solver will write a preliminary proposal as described above to be evaluated by the Seeker with a goal of establishing a collaborative partnership. Upon completion of the evaluation, the Seeker may contact selected Solvers directly to work out terms for a collaboration.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• The call is open only to already established companies (start-ups and SMEs) from any country around the world. Individuals are not eligible.
• For successful and selected Solvers Enel will provide financial and technical support to develop and test the technologies and selected solutions in the Innovation Lab located in Milan. Startups and SMEs will have access to testing infrastructures in addition to being connected to national and international stakeholders thanks to the global network of Enel Innovation Hubs.
• The Enel’s investment will be in the co-development or in testing activities: for each project the necessary amount and the modalities will be evaluated together with the Solver.
• If the test/PoC will be successful, Enel will offer a concrete opportunity to scale-up the solution by adopting it on its own business through commercial agreements.
• This challenge has a specific Regulations and it is available as attachment at the end of this page. Read the Regulations to see terms and conditions of this challenge and to see if you can take part to the contest. All proposers are invited to read it keeping in mind that submitting a solution they automatically accept the Regulations other than the Terms of Usage of this platform.

A webinar will be organized on the 19th of November for a Q&A session from 3 pm to 5 pm by connecting to THIS LINK

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (CET) on January 10, 2019. Late submissions will not be considered. However, we suggest to apply before the 5th of December 2018 in order to allow our experts from different business lines to have more time to deep dive into your solution.

After the Challenge deadline, Enel will complete the review process and all proposers will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.

What happens next?

After and during the application deadline (10 January 2019) an Enel technical panel will evaluate your proposal and might contact you to gather additional information.

To give our experts time to ask you questions we suggest to apply before the 5th of December 2018.

• Your innovative proposal will be evaluated based on technical parameters (Solution Requirements), economic and business impact for Enel. The presentation of the proposal will also be evaluated.
• At the end of the assessment, you will receive feedback.
• In case of success, Enel contact staff will get in touch with you to discuss the next steps.

ABOUT INNOCENTIVE

InnoCentive collaborates with Enel to manage this challenge.

InnoCentive is the global innovation marketplace where creative minds solve some of the world's most important problems for cash awards up to $1 million. Commercial, governmental and humanitarian organizations engage with InnoCentive to solve problems that can impact humankind in areas ranging from the environment to medical advancements.