I-DE, the distribution company of Iberdrola España, steps up aerial monitoring of power lines in Extremadura following recent storms

Iberdrola España’s distribution subsidiary has carried out helicopter inspections over more than 1,000 km of power lines across different areas of the region

Smart Grids

A group of people, all wearing safety helmets and reflective vests, are gathered around a vehicle. One man is using a tablet to interact with the information on the vehicle, while the others are observing. In the background, a yellow and green helicopter is parked. The group appears to be engaged in a training or inspection activity in an industrial setting.

Aerial inspections of i-DE power lines in Extremadura

I-DE, Iberdrola España’s distribution company, has intensified aerial inspections of its smart grids in Extremadura in recent weeks in order to strengthen continuity and quality of supply after a succession of storms affected the autonomous community.

Specifically, helicopter surveys have been conducted over a total of 1,000 kilometres of power lines in areas including La Campiña, Sierra de San Pedro, Plasencia, Hurdes, Vera, La Siberia, Trujillo and La Serena, among others. These were the regions most impacted by Storm Kristin—with wind gusts exceeding 130 km/h—as well as by recent heavy rainfall.

i-DE carries out these reviews as part of its routine preventive maintenance programme. However, following the recent storms, inspections have been intensified to reinforce the network and anticipate potential hidden damage, as explained by Santiago Liviano, Head of Network Maintenance for i-DE in Cáceres.

“These aerial surveys provide a detailed assessment of the condition of the infrastructure and enable the detection of potential anomalies,” he noted, referring to components such as insulators, conductors, fittings and towers that may have been affected by lightning strikes, fallen trees or strong wind gusts. The key principle of preventive maintenance, he stressed, is anticipation—“staying ahead of possible faults before they occur.”

Lidar technology: ten million data points per kilometre

The inspections are carried out using helicopters equipped with advanced technology capable of capturing a wide range of data for detailed analysis.

The aircraft are fitted with four types of cameras and sensors: a laser scanner (Lidar technology) capable of generating a three-dimensional scan of the entire electricity infrastructure using millions of pulses; two high-resolution cameras capturing eight images per second with a precision of up to two millimetres, enabling detailed visual inspection of all installation components; and a thermal imaging camera designed to detect potential “hot spots”.

According to Diego Cuasante, Managing Director of Atlas Innovative Engineering—the company responsible for developing this technological solution—approximately ten million data points are collected for every kilometre inspected. This allows for the creation of a three-dimensional digital twin of cables, towers, vegetation, buildings and terrain, enabling precise identification of defects and more efficient asset management.

Thermal imaging cameras also measure the temperature of infrastructure and the corridors through which power lines run, making it possible to detect abnormal values and take corrective action to prevent potential supply interruptions.

More than 12,000 km of lines in Extremadura

In Extremadura, i-DE manages more than 10,600 kilometres of low- and medium-voltage lines and over 2,000 kilometres of high- and very high-voltage lines. The company also operates 3,467 transformer substations and 65 distribution substations, providing service to households and businesses throughout the region.

As a result of these investments, i-DE now operates a modern, digitalised and resilient network in Extremadura, prepared to meet the demands and challenges associated with the electrification of the regional economy. Sustained investment over many years has also delivered significant improvements in quality of supply for customers.

i-DE concludes that the electrification of energy consumption is an effective solution for building a more sustainable future. Promoting electricity as the primary energy source represents a commitment to efficiency, cost savings and improved quality of life.

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