Copernicus powering Energy Infrastructure Monitoring

The Energy Challenge

TSOs and DSOs are required to monitor their network for potential dangers, such as illegal constructions, which could endanger people or impact the integrity of the network. To inspect these powerlines, operators often perform manual ground inspections, or fly helicopters or other aerial assets (airplanes, drones) to detect activities. i-DE, a major Spanish player in electricity distribution, operates an extensive network of approximately 84.000kms of medium, high and very high voltage transmission lines in Spain. i-DE faces the challenge of monitoring extensive infrastructure for illegal constructions within specifically regulated buffer zones, governed by strict regulations (e.g. RD 3151/1968 or RD 228/2008), which prohibit unauthorized buildings or activities near powerlines to ensure safety and compliance. To address this challenge, i-DE sought a solution that could detect illegal constructions near powerlines, provide alerts about new construction activities and offer contextual information about the type and scale of detected structures. Such capabilities would allow to promptly notify authorities, halt ongoing illegal constructions, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Solution powered by Sentinel-2

Netherlands-based NEO demonstrated a solution powered by Sentinel-2 satellite data: a highly innovative and cost-effective approach to monitoring i-DE’s powerline infrastructure for illegal constructions using satellite data.

By leveraging the freely available multispectral imagery from Sentinel-2, the system provides a comprehensive coverage of i-DE’s extensive network, detecting changes and potential construction activities near powerlines.

When changes are identified based on the Sentinel-2 data, the system triggers the procurement of very high-resolution commercial satellite imagery to analyse the areas of interest in greater detail. This two-step process ensures that monitoring remains both efficient and affordable, as high-resolution data is only purchased when necessary.

The solution also delivers remarkable precision, not only identifying new constructions but also determining the exact timing of these activities—down to the day—allowing Iberdrola to act swiftly and decisively.

By combining cutting-edge Earth Observation technology with a targeted approach to data acquisition, the solution provides significant cost savings compared to continuous high-resolution imaging, while providing the accuracy and frequency required for effective infrastructure monitoring.

About Copernicus Sentinel-2

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission consists of two Earth observation satellites (Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B) equipped with multispectral instruments.

Together, they achieve a global revisit time of five days, ensuring frequent and reliable data acquisition. This makes them particularly effective for monitoring changes in dynamic environments such as powerline networks, providing the required frequency to detect new ongoing constructions near the network. The free availability of Sentinel-2 data is a cornerstone of this innovative monitoring approach.

Key Outcomes

The implemented demonstration showcased the capabilities of Sentinel-2 data to monitor a section of i-DE’s powerline network.

• Detection accuracy: the vast majority of new constructions were successfully identified between 2016-2024 within the monitored area.
• Timing precision: The solution accurately determined the precise timing of the construction activities (to the day).
• Cost savings: This approach offers significant cost savings by reducing reliance on manual inspections and avoiding expenses related to relocating powerlines or legal disputes

This proof-of-concept highlights how freely available space-based technologies can transform infrastructure monitoring.

Next Steps

Following the success of this pilot project, i-DE and NEO are planning a follow-on activity to scale this solution across a larger part of their transmission network.

This collaboration underscores how innovative use of space data can enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve regulatory compliance in the energy sector.

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