Startups Aim to Solve Utility Caused Fires
I just read an awesome article profiling 5 startups that are working to reduce the impact of wildfires in California, including utility-caused forest fires. Thanks to funding from the state of California, these emerging companies are looking to flip the script and improve the resiliency of the state’s grid going forward.
Where Did these Startups Come From?
A collaborative program called the California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development program paid a total of $4.2 million in grants to 28 selected startups ($150k per company), five of which focus on protecting the grid from fires while at the same time, reducing the frequency of planned outages.
The five startups profiled in the article are clearly on the cutting edge of the industry, and their success can only help utility emergency preparedness efforts. Here’s a quick look at the five startups profiled:
- Gridware – A company specializing in sensor technology used to monitor the grid for signs of trouble. The self-powered sensors are attached to poles, conductors, and other equipment and provide real-time warnings of malfunctions, faults and irregularities.
- Tolo – Specializes in drone technology that conducts visual inspections of utility infrastructure. The data gathered from the drone inspections is modeled for predictive purposes, and incorporates elements of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).
- ALD Technical Solutions – Provider of a unique “composite technology” that helps reinforce electrical cables.
- Topolonet – A company that has developed an algorithm that can send data from the grid in seconds versus the minutes it typically takes with SCADA.
- IRG Solutions – A company that is in the process of developing a technology utilizing a neural network of sensors and infrared cameras placed on power lines and at substations to rapidly identify the root cause of any anomaly.
So, there you have it! I sincerely hope that at least one of these startups is able to commercialize something that can realistically assist with the emergency preparedness process. Time will tell…
