ESB Networks uses AI to model risk of climate-related power cuts

With the frequency and intensity of storms increasing across Ireland in recent years, ESB Networks said this deployment of Neara’s AI and digital modelling technology will transform the way they identify, evaluate, and address risks across their 7,500km transmission network.

ESB is leveraging Neara’s technology to create a digital twin model that maps infrastructure using high-accuracy LiDAR, down to the level of individual poles or towers and the conductors strung between them.

The model can then be used by asset managers, risk managers as well as contractors, planners and engineers to analyse and stress-test key parts of the network in granular detail within a simulated digital environment.

Neara’s digital twin models are built by combining multiple data sources, including LiDAR, geospatial data and imagery, which ESB said provides a higher degree of accuracy compared to deploying staff to inspect different areas of the network in person.

Specifically, Neara’s digital models are said to provide ‘detailed insights’ in two weeks, compared to an average of three to four months for manual reporting. ESB said that this will allow them to remedy identified risks much faster and will avoid forced outages as a result.