| Company | EDP (Energias de Portugal) |
| Location |
Spain
|
| Timeline | 2023 |
| Project Overview |
EDP Spain partnered with Safegrid to evaluate the effectiveness of the Intelligent Grid System® in detecting and locating downed conductors and earth faults. Through controlled field testing, the solution demonstrated high accuracy in fault localization, helping improve grid safety and reduce wildfire risks associated with downed lines. |
| Products | Safegrid Intelligent Grid System® |
Downed conductors in medium-voltage (MV) power distribution networks pose serious risks beyond service interruptions. These include:
Electrical shock hazards to the public and field personnel
High wildfire risk, especially in dry or forested environments
Potential damage to infrastructure, wildlife, and surrounding communities
EDP, a leading energy provider in Spain and Portugal, is committed to improving grid safety and leveraging innovative technologies. As part of this effort, the company conducted field testing to assess advanced fault detection capabilities.
EDP aimed to address several critical safety and operational challenges:
Difficulty quickly detecting and locating downed conductors
High risk of electric shock from live conductors on the ground
Increased likelihood of wildfire ignition
Limited visibility using traditional fault detection methods
Need for faster, more accurate fault localization
Without precise detection, these incidents can escalate into major safety hazards.
Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® was tested through controlled fault simulations to evaluate its detection and localization performance.
1. Four intentional earth fault events were generated
2. Different setups were used to simulate real-world conditions:
Copper bar inserted into soil
Copper wire laid on the ground with insulation variations
Direct conductor-to-ground contact scenarios
Detection of earth fault events in real time
Accurate fault localization despite varied configurations
Remote monitoring and analysis during testing
The solution provides several safety and operational advantages:
Accurate detection of downed conductors
Faster identification of high-risk fault locations
Reduced risk of electrical hazards to the public
Improved ability to prevent wildfire incidents
Enhanced situational awareness and grid visibility
Support for proactive safety measures
The field testing demonstrated strong performance:
All simulated fault events were correctly detected and located
High accuracy across varied fault scenarios
Improved confidence in detecting dangerous, real-world conditions
Validated Safegrid’s capability to enhance safety and reduce risks
“We are very satisfied with the results of the test, and we see high potential for this solution.”
— Pedro Del Rosal, Director of Digital Transformation, EDP Spain
This case highlights the critical importance of detecting and locating downed conductors quickly and accurately. Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® proved highly effective in controlled testing, demonstrating its ability to identify potentially hazardous faults and improve response times.
By enabling faster intervention and reducing the risk of electric shock and wildfires, Safegrid supports utilities like EDP Spain in building safer, more resilient power networks.