Background
As a global Distribution System Operator (DSO), Enel Grids manages more than 1.9 million kilometers of electricity distribution lines, many of which pass through areas with dense or fast-growing vegetation. These environments pose significant operational challenges, particularly in terms of safety and service continuity. Uncontrolled vegetation growth is one of the leading causes of power outages, infrastructure damage, and even wildfire risks, issues that are further exacerbated by increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
Recent experiences have highlighted the opportunity to improve traditional vegetation management practices. Manual cutting and inspections can often involve working in challenging conditions—such as elevated areas or close to electrical infrastructure—which can pose serious safety risks. In a modern, safety-oriented operating model, there is a growing focus on minimizing these risks through innovative and more efficient approaches.
Against this backdrop, Enel Grids aims to revolutionize vegetation management by introducing innovative, safety-focused tools. The objectives are twofold:
- To eliminate or significantly reduce direct human exposure to high-risk environments;
- To enhance operational efficiency and precision through the use of advanced technologies.
These innovations are part of a broader strategy to integrate safety into every aspect of grid management. By leveraging digitalization and automation, Enel Grids is not only improving service reliability but also prioritizing the health and safety of its workforce.
This initiative aligns with Enel’s strategic investment plan for 2025–2027, which is dedicating €26 billion to strengthening the grid through sustainability, resilience, and digital transformation.
THIS CHALLENGE IS OPEN TO ALL LEGAL ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE ENEL GROUP.
Make sure you register at openinnovability.com as an organization.
Do you have a solution that can support Enel Grids?
WORKSHOP
SAVE THE DATE! Join us for a workshop dedicated to this challenge that will take place on August 27, 2025 [DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHOP CALENDAR].
You will have the chance to hear directly from the Challenge Owner, who will explain the challenge in detail, and to ask the Enel Grids team questions: don’t miss this opportunity to refine your proposal and ensure it meets the challenge requirements.
This challenge contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help transform our world:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Challenge
The Current Situation
Currently, vegetation cutting near power lines is largely performed manually, using tools that only partially automate the process. These activities often require the direct presence of operators, sometimes working at height or near live electrical components, which can pose significant safety risks.
The objective of this challenge is to identify solutions that can be remotely operated from the ground or fully automated, reducing the need for physical intervention while improving both safety and operational efficiency. By rethinking traditional methods and adopting innovative tools, Enel Grids aims to create a safer working environment for field personnel while ensuring reliable, regulation-compliant vegetation management.
Required Solution Features and Details
Enel Grids is looking for innovative solutions to improve the safety and efficiency of vegetation management near power lines.
The goal is to identify a remotely-operated or semi-automated cutting system that allows operators to work from the ground at a safe distance, reducing physical exposure while ensuring precise, effective pruning. The solution should be suitable for both routine maintenance and emergency operations, and adaptable to different environments and regulatory contexts.
Some innovative tools have already been introduced that help reduce safety risks and improve efficiency. In particular, field operators are currently using a manually controlled electric chainsaw (called a “motopoda”) that’s mounted on an insulated pole (hot stick) and operated from the ground to prune vegetation close to MV and LV lines. To ensure system stability and prevent operators from entering the falling zone, a tripod is used to balance the tool’s weight.
However, this solution has several limitations, including manual handling challenges, ergonomic issues, excessive weight, limited cutting capacity, lack of remote control, and an inability to manage falling branches. Enel Grids is therefore seeking a solution to either improve the existing “motopoda” system or develop other technologies that deliver at least the same level of safety and efficiency.
Submissions are welcome from around the world. The testing phase will be conducted in Brazil. with potential expansion to other countries where Enel Grids operates.
Solution “Must Haves”
MAIN TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The proposed solution must:
- Allow the operator to remain at a safe distance, avoiding contact with falling branches.
- Be capable of cutting branches up to 20 cm in diameter and located up to 15 meters high.
- Be made with materials and ergonomic features that minimize physical strain (device weight ≤ 9 kg).
- Have structural integrity for a minimum lifespan of 3 years under intensive use.
- Offer remote control functionality during operation.
- Ensure clean, precise cuts to eliminate the need for manual finishing. The solution should enable angle adjustment or stabilization of the cutting head for greater precision and operator control.
- Operate effectively in both scheduled and emergency scenarios.
- Be battery powered, guaranteeing at least 40 minutes of continuous use.
- Be easy to install and maintain, with minimal setup time.
- Be electrically insulated for safe use on both live and de-energized lines (up to 35 kV).
- Be suitable for use in both urban and rural environments under various weather conditions (e.g., rain, wind, high humidity, dust).
- Feature a modular design allowing easy replacement of components (blade, battery, control unit, etc.) to facilitate easy maintenance.
- Have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ≥ 6.
- Meet a performance benchmark of 0.3 m² of vegetation cleared per cutting cycle (branches up to 20cm in diameter).
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Compliance with safety standards: The solution must comply with (or be able to obtain) all necessary international and local certifications for the sale and use of the product for vegetation pruning.
- Training and usability: The system should be intuitive and require minimal training for field operators. If specialized training is needed, clear documentation and instructional materials must be provided.
The winning proposal must provide up to 5 devices (or prototypes) for the Proof-of-Concept phase under a collaboration agreement to be negotiated in good faith with Enel Grids, as further described below. Such devices (or prototypes) shall be made available within 3 months of the signing of the collaboration agreement.
SOLUTION “NICE TO HAVES”
The following features are considered desirable and may add value to the proposal:
- A mechanism to retain cut branches and prevent uncontrolled falling.
- Low noise and emission output, especially for use in urban or environmentally sensitive areas.
- An autonomous system capable of operating the insulated pole (hot stick) without human presence.
Enel is open to evaluating solutions with a lower TRL, provided they meet all the ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have’ requirements. A development roadmap is required for lower TRL applications. Having a local presence (office or facility) in Brazil will be considered a plus during evaluation.
Deliverables
Proposals must be submitted via the openinnovability.com platform in a single stage, and include the following information in English:
- Solution name/title and overview;
- Solution detailed description (e.g., Technical, Functional, Cybersecurity and Operational specifications, etc.);
- Solution design (e.g. Hardware, Software, Interfaces and electronic scheme, etc.);
- Estimated cost for up to 5 devices (or prototypes) for Proof-of-Concept testing;
- Estimated final cost for scaling to 1,000 devices and more;
- Supporting documentation: any additional supporting material, compliance documentation, simulations, or research material that might help understand and evaluate the proposed solution may be uploaded;
- Development roadmap if your solution has a lower TRL.
Winning proposal(s) will have the opportunity to collaborate with Enel Grids and test the devices (or prototypes) as part of a Proof-of-Concept agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions detailed in the ATTACHED REGULATIONS [LINK TO DOWNLOAD].
What's in it for you?
Challenge, reward, IP rights, and deadlines
This is a Call for Partners Challenge; participants will need to submit a written proposal to be evaluated by the Challenge Owner.
Enel X may reward the best proposal(s) with a prize up to $10.000 (“Prize”).
In order to avoid any misunderstanding, we would like to make it clear that the Prize shall be deemed to include all ancillary charges (including, but not limited to, payments to professional social security funds, etc.) as well as any applicable taxes. The winning Participant (“Winner”) shall provide all necessary documentation and information for the disbursement of the Prize, including any invoice, tax and financial compliance certificates as may be required under applicable laws and regulations.
This Challenge does not require Intellectual Property (IP) transfer. However, sometimes the Challenge Owner company requests that certain IP arrangements shall be made, should a partnership be formed.
The Winning Solution will be offered the chance to negotiate a collaboration agreement with the Challenge Owner.
The proposals will be accepted on the openinnovability.com platform until September 8th, 2025 and the evaluation process will start after this date (this deadline could be postponed).
Late submissions will not be considered.
What Happens Next?
Following the challenge deadline, the Challenge Owner will complete the review process and make a decision on the Winning Solution(s). All participants who submit a proposal will be notified as to the status of their submissions. However, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.
The Challenge Owner will evaluate the proposal against the stipulated features and characteristics that are required of the solution, focusing, in particular, on the following criteria:
- The overall scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed solution;
- Economic potential of the concept (e.g., total cost of ownership);
- Business potential for the Challenge Owner;
- Novelty and non-obviousness;
- Potential for proprietary position (i.e., whether the technology is novel or protectable);
- Capabilities and relevant experience of the proposer;
- Realism of the proposed solution;
- The maturity level of the proposal.
If the reward includes the opportunity to collaborate with Enel, once one or more suitable solutions have been identified, Enel will reserve the opportunity to start a collaboration, by way of example, on all or part of the following activities:
- Test execution;
- Supply of prototypes (if the solution includes equipment);
- Follow up and monitoring of the proposed idea behavior.
At the end of the assessment, you will receive feedback.
If your proposal is successful, an Enel representative will contact you to discuss the next steps.
The final award for this Challenge is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the pre-awarding process, including acceptance of the Challenge Regulation that is the regulation for this Challenge.
The pre-awarding process includes obtaining some documents from the participants such as Counterparty Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) and Challenge Regulation signed.