Drones prove their utility for utilities Xcel Energy researches, uses drones to advance growth in North Dakota

By Michael Lamb

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Keeping the lights on, safely, reliably and affordably: This is Xcel Energy’s commitment to the communities we serve. We’ve invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure in North Dakota over the last five years, investments that will help businesses grow and prosper.

Xcel Energy expanded the high-voltage power grid and substations to ensure reliability and increase capacity to move power across the region. We’ve built new wind farms that bring great economic benefit and serve our customers with low cost power.

And in addition to investing in the basics, Xcel Energy also is pursuing future technologies to help improve our operations. One area of focus is the rapidly evolving field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems or drones.

Xcel Energy is excited to be part of a consortium of partners here in North Dakota working to advance UAS through research and real- world applications. Most North Dakotans already know about the state’s national reputation in aviation, its highly skilled workforce and state-of-the-art facilities. In working on UAS research, we understand why North Dakota is known as the “Silicon Valley of Drones.”

Xcel Energy’s collaboration with North Dakota on UAS is important for our company and the industry. This technology is improving the safety and efficiency of inspecting utility infrastructure in many ways.

For example, we know our customers need and expect power to be on 24/7. After a storm hits, we move quickly to assess the damage to address where and what repairs are needed. Restoring power can be delayed if we can’t get into affected areas due to downed trees, iced roads or flooding. This is where using drones helps – they fly where our trucks can’t drive, and they’re able to gather information, day or night.

Xcel Energy began this groundbreaking research last year with North Dakota, the University of North Dakota and many other partners. The group is evaluating ways to use UAS to improve storm restoration response times by testing different drone technologies using simulated natural disaster scenarios.

UND leveraged its data center capabilities to consume a huge volume of data that was collected from different types of unmanned aircrafts flying at high and low altitudes over the state.

Xcel Energy is also using drone technology to inspect more than 20,000 miles of transmission lines in 10 states, including North Dakota. Through a firstof-its-kind partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, Xcel Energy is using drones to inspect critical infrastructure while providing real-world data and critical feedback to the FAA.

This information will help shape future government policies that will allow the safe and routine use of unmanned aircrafts beyond the operator’s visualline-of-sight to inspect and manage the utility grid.

Both of these initiatives aim to transform the way Xcel Energy and the utility industry do their work. Without the support of our partners at the Northern Plains Test Site, the FAA, the North Dakota Department of Commerce and many others, these programs would not be possible.

Many more exciting milestones are ahead for UAS. Xcel Energy looks forward to pursuing partnerships that will advance this game-changing technology in North Dakota and beyond. PB

MICHAEL LAMB VP, OPERATING SERVICES AND ENTERPRISE TRANSFORMATION OFFICE XCEL ENERGY