An unprecedented project will apply SmartAssets technology to digitize distribution infrastructure, reduce connection times, and accelerate the country’s energy transition.
Portuguese distribution company EDP has entered into a strategic partnership with Brazilian startup Fu2re, which specializes in artificial intelligence solutions for the energy and oil and gas sectors, to apply SmartAssets technology to a pioneering project to digitize the electricity grid. The initiative will be conducted in the Ourém region and surrounding municipalities, marking EDP’s first large-scale application of computer vision algorithms for mapping electrical infrastructure.
The system developed by Fu2re uses 360-degree images captured by vehicles equipped with multiple cameras, which will drive through urban areas, recording data every 5 meters. These recordings will be processed by advanced AI algorithms for the automated identification and classification of assets such as poles, transformers, switches, crossbars, lamp types and wattage, and other grid equipment.
“The main objective of the initiative is to meet regulatory requirements for network mapping, deepen technical knowledge of the electrical infrastructure, and, thus, significantly reduce connection times for new customers and energy producers,” the company states. The proposal also aims to improve resource management and guide investments more assertively in areas of the network with greater technical constraints.
Automation accelerates energy transition and digitalization of the sector
The SmartAssets solution promises to replace traditional data collection methods—previously manual and error-prone—with a digital, fast, and reliable process. The technology is estimated to increase operational efficiency with execution speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional methods. The model also features submetric georeferencing and automatic assignment of a technical reliability level to the extracted data.
The project will last three months and will encompass the stages of planning, image acquisition, AI processing, and integration with EDP’s GIS (Geographic Information System). Digitalizing the grid based on accurate data will enable significant gains in asset management, customer service, planning, and operational safety.
“It is very gratifying to see our expertise in AI and computer vision being used to support EDP Portugal in this transformative project. This partnership not only optimizes grid operations and planning, but also directly contributes to accelerating the energy transition in Portugal, enabling more efficient and intelligent resource management,” says André Sih, Founder & Managing Partner of Fu2re.
Brazilian technology already validated in the national market
The robustness of the SmartAssets solution was previously proven in a project carried out with the distribution company Light in Rio de Janeiro. In the first phase of this operation, more than 500,000 public lighting points were mapped, including 372,000 poles with structured images and 131,000 assets identified by inference, even without images, in complex areas such as tunnels and communities.
The project provided Light with an accurate, georeferenced, and highly reliable technical database, with significant gains in time, cost, and information quality. These results now serve as the basis for the internationalization of the technology, adapted to the European context and Portugal’s regulatory needs.
In September 2024, EDP had already conducted a Proof of Concept (POC) of the technology in three locations—Almargem do Bispo, Pero Pinheiro, and Montelavar—covering approximately 310 km of network. The success of the initiative paved the way for the current contract, which officially begins the large-scale application of SmartAssets.
AI and computer vision gain traction in the electricity sector
The digitalization of electrical infrastructure is considered a fundamental step in making distribution systems smarter, more resilient, and more prepared for the integration of new renewable sources. The application of AI in network mapping also represents a regulatory advance by enabling transparency, traceability, and standardization of assets.
The model used by Fu2re is scalable and can be adapted to different utilities and regulatory contexts. Furthermore, the use of technology drastically reduces the exposure of field teams, reduces operational risks, and increases the reliability of strategic data used for decision-making.
With the signing of the contract with EDP Portugal, Fu2re takes another step in consolidating its international presence, reinforcing the role of Brazilian innovation in the development of sustainable and high-tech energy solutions.
