Start-up challenge: New sustainable materials for the electricity grids of the future

Looking for new materials, designs and methodologies for electric substations and very high-voltage lines 

Start-up challenge Electrical network GSGIH

Iberdrola, through its start-ups program PERSEO is looking for new materials, designs, manufacturing and construction methods for electric substations and very high-voltage lines that enhance the sustainability of the processes.

Start-up challenge: New sustainable materials for the electricity grids of the future

The winners will sign a partnership agreement and will be able to test their project through PERSEO.

Iberdrola has a business area of Grids comprised of over 1.2 million kilometres of electricity transmission and distribution lines spread throughout the United States, Brazil, the UK and Spain. This network comprises over 4,500 high- to medium-voltage substations and more than 1.6 million medium- to low-voltage distribution transformers built and operated to provide a high-quality and reliable service to a total of 32 million electricity supply points.

In its commitment to the fight against climate change and promoting sustainability, the group is continuously working in the search for, development and implementation of solutions that will help the transition towards a more sustainable energy model which will enable us to obtain clear results in relation to the climate crisis and the sustainability strategy. 

 

Description of the challenge

In this context, Iberdrola, through its start-ups Program – PERSEO, is looking for new materials, designs, manufacturing and construction methods for electrical substations and very high voltage lines. 

The main goals of this challenge focused on the grids of the future are:

  • Optimisation of the cost of the materials and methods currently applied.

  • Reduction of the environmental impact associated with the construction of new assets in electricity grids, mainly substations and very high voltage lines.

  • Optimisation of the cost and time associated with civil works and assembly.

  • Increased safety and risk prevention associated with assembly processes.

In this way, the proposals to be considered will be, among others:

  • Solutions that optimise the use of project materials, for example, in metallic structures.

  • Solutions that replace the use of current materials with new, more sustainable materials. 

  • Solutions that optimise civil works.

  • Solutions that optimise the removal of plants. 

  • Solutions that optimise soil improvement, both in terms of allowable bearing capacity and resistivity. 

  • Solutions that increase the safety of operations by reducing human intervention, for example, in operations at height. 

The following attributes will be favourably rated:

  • The maturity, reliability and durability of the solution.

  • Ease of installation and maintenance.

  • Investment and operational costs.

  • Scalability of the solution for this and other applications in the electricity sector.

The challenge is launched within the framework of the new Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub.  which Iberdrola aims to transform into a worldwide smart grid benchmark through open collaboration and co-working between i-DE technicians, suppliers, start-ups and different organisations from all around the world.