Terna Completes Aerial Monitoring of Electricity Grid in Abruzzo Using Helicopters and Infrared Technology

Terna Completes Aerial Monitoring of Electricity Grid in Abruzzo Using Helicopters and Infrared Technology

(IN BRIEF) Terna, the company managing the national transmission grid, has completed aerial monitoring activities of the electricity grid in Abruzzo using helicopters from its fleet. The inspections covered approximately 2160 km of overhead lines, ensuring total efficiency of the service and detecting anomalies. Ground-level inspections are also carried out when necessary. By the end of 2023, Terna plans to have inspected around 70,000 km of high-voltage power lines using infrared technology. The helicopters are equipped with cutting-edge technology, and the data collected is analyzed using a Decision Support System for proactive maintenance decisions. The technical inspection team consists of 33 professionals trained as “helicopter inspection specialists.

(PRESS RELEASE) ROME, 3-Aug-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Terna has completed its monitoring activities of the electricity grid in Abruzzo. Using helicopters from the company fleet, around 2160 km of overhead lines were inspected in various provinces, around 743 km of which in the area of L’Aquila, for a total of 131 power lines at 60, 130, 220 and 380 kV.

Continuous monitoring and maintenance of its assets is a priority for the Company led by Giuseppina Di Foggia, which invests a total of around €50 million in these activities every year.

Aerial inspections make it possible to verify whether there are any anomalies on conductors and pylons in order to ensure total efficiency of the service, allowing the company to analyse around 240 km of lines per day, as opposed to 15 km for ground-level inspections, which nonetheless remain an essential tool for the detection of anomalies that cannot be detected from above. By the end of 2023, Terna will have carried out overflights and inspections on around 70,000 km of high-voltage power lines with infrared technology, carrying out a complete analysis of the regional grid.

To perform this monitoring activity, the company that manages the national transmission grid used seven helicopters, given the names of particular examples of national birdlife: Gheppio (kestrel), Assiolo (Eurasian scops owl), Cuculo (cuckoo), Ghiandaia (Eurasian jay), Cicogna (white stork), Nibbio (kite) and Falco (falcon). All of the vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including four new video cameras, all managed directly by on-board personnel, enabling data to be viewed in real-time.

Furthermore, once the aerial inspections are complete, the data is then analysed and processed using a computerised Decision Support System (DSS) which provides proactive support to the plant maintenance decision-making process, proposing inspections, maintenance works and asset replacements according to schedules that follow an established policy.

To operate this equipment, dozens of professionals from Terna’s Plant Units located throughout Italy underwent a period of training at the company’s training centre located within its Marcigliana office in Rome.

Upon completion of the training, participants are awarded the qualification of “helicopter inspection specialist”, which is renewed annually following a refresher course. Currently the technical inspection team is made up of 33 professionals, one for each company Plant Unit, with an average age of 38.

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SOURCE: Terna