Enel Open Innovability Challenge: Corrosion Prevention for Medium Voltage Lines

Enel is seeking a method to prevent the damage to medium voltage overhead distribution line components caused by a combination of marine air and pollution. The method must be inexpensive to implement and long-lasting.

This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.

Many components of medium voltage overhead distribution lines are impacted by the accumulation of, and corrosion caused by, a combination of sea salt, moisture, dust, and industrial smoke. This is particularly true in locations that receive little rain to wash the accumulation away, such as Lima, Peru. The infrequent mild drizzle in such places only leads to mud formation and impregnation of the components. A variety of components are affected, including polymer-porcelain insulators, copper or aluminum conductors, and steel staples, connectors, and cabinets.  Enel is seeking a method to prevent this build up and corrosion that can be utilized on existing components and potentially on new components. While a single method applicable across all component types is ideal it is recognized that the variety of different component types may require different methods and Solvers are encouraged to submit overall methods or methods specific to a component type. Enel is interested in suggestions for commercially available products or easily implementable methods rather than solutions that require significant further development.

This challenge provides contribution to the following SDGs:

• SDGs 7: Affordable and clean energy

With the introduction of new corrosion prevention methods, Enel contribute to improve the efficiency of the global electric system by increasing the life of the assets and reducing maintenance and costs

• SDGs 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustanainable industrialization and foster innovation

Enel seeks the innovation of new additives or materials to prevent the corrosion over the lines in order to the resilient of the electric system

• SDGs 13: Climate action

Enel seeks environmental friendly new methods to eliminate or reduce the corrosion in MV

This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique features:

• There is a guaranteed award.  The award(s) will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Seeker. The total payout will be $15,000, with at least one award being no smaller than $5,000 and no award being smaller than $1,000.
• The Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to the Seeker.  Rather, by submitting a proposal, the Solver grants to the Seeker a royalty-free, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in this proposal, including for promotional purposes.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (Central European Time) on September 2, 2018. 

Late submissions will not be considered.

This Challenge is hosted on the Enel Open Innovability Site and further details are available there.  You will be redirected there when you click ‘View Challenge Details’.

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers that submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.

ABOUT THE SEEKER

Enel is a multinational energy company and one of the world’s leading integrated electricity and gas operators. Enel works in 35 countries across 5 continents, generating energy with a net installed capacity of almost 85 GW, selling gas and distributing electricity across a network spanning approximately 2.2 million km.

With 63.5 million end users around the world, Enel has the biggest customer base among its European competitors, and it is one of Europe’s leading energy companies by installed capacity and reported EBITDA. The Group is made up of nearly 62,900 people who help promote Enel’s two cardinal principles: innovation and sustainability.

Enel is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that meet society’s changing needs. Through its openinnovability.enel.com crowdsourcing platform, the company connects people and ideas from across the world, encouraging anyone to propose sustainable innovation projects and solutions that help develop local communities.

Enel is also committed to helping to achieve four of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. Access to affordable and clean energy

2. Support for quality education

3. Contributing to socio-economic development in the communities in which Enel operates

4. The fight against climate change

Enel Global Infrastructure and Networks is the business line in charge of steering and coordinating the energy transmission and distribution activities of Enel Group in 8 Countries (Europe and South America). Enel Distribución Peru, with more than 1.4M end users and 8TWh distributed energy, is the second Distribution System Operator in the Country, managing the distribution network of Lima.

With a view of sharing and fostering the best practice in network digitalisation and industry 4.0, from field operations to a new customer experience, Enel Global Infrastructure and Networks is today an international benchmark for Smart Meter and Smart Grid solutions.