California Drone Company Makes Deal With Indian Power Provider

UAVs will soon begin monitoring powerlines in India under a strategic agreement between Palo Alto (CA)-based Sharper Shape ... a provider of automated drone-based asset inspections ... and Indian power transmission company Sterlite Power.

As part of the cooperation, Sterlite Power will make a minority investment into Sharper Shape to foster Indian market growth and continued technology development. This further cements the relationship between the two companies after the partnership agreement was signed in February to deliver cutting-edge drone technologies for the power transmission industry in the presence of the Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä in Mumbai during the Make in India Week.

Sterlite Power and Sharper Shape are currently awaiting approvals from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for large-scale, long distance drone flights to inspect utility assets. Long distance drone flights could provide significant benefits by enabling a safe, efficient and faster method of inspection.

"We are delighted to partner with Sharper Shape in bringing automated asset management to the Indian power transmission industry. Drones are transforming the way in which infrastructure is built and maintained. Sterlite Power is committed to solving the toughest challenges of energy delivery. We are proud to contribute towards India's vision for a 24X7 power-for-all," said Pratik Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, Sterlite Power.

In addition to improving the reliability, resilience and safety of Sterlite Power's transmission lines, the partnership aims to provide services for other utilities in India. India has a power transmission network of more than a million circuit kilometres that is undergoing double-digit growth annually. The use of drones will increase the uptime of the grid, reduce transmission tariffs, avoid grid blackouts, and save the environment by reducing deforestation along the line corridors.

Sharper Shape has already spearheaded the adoption of long distance commercial drone flights for utilities in Europe. In the U.S., Sharper Shape is part of the EEI Sharper Utility partnership, an industry collaboration aimed at demonstrating and developing commercial long distance drone flights for electric companies.

"We applaud Sterlite Power for pioneering drone-based asset inspections in India," said Tero Heinonen, CEO of Sharper Shape. "And, we look forward to working with Sterlite Power to establish a framework for drone inspections in India that will provide safe and reliable energy for consumers."

The partnership will bring yet another aerial technology to the Indian market. Sterlite Power has already introduced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) for surveys and helicopters to avoid disturbances to farm activities and neighbours and speed up the process to commission much-needed infrastructure in India. Soon, it will deploy heli-cranes to erect transmission towers in the challenging terrains of Jammu and Kashmir.

(Source: Sterlite Power news release. Image from Sharper Shape YouTube video)

FMI: www.sterlitepower.com