Drone technology developed by Sees.ai, an Irish start-up co-founded and led by Dublin engineer John McKenna has won the contract for England’s electricity grid. The company’s innovative remote drone control system is set to transform the way the grid inspects its vast network of high-voltage pylons and cables across England and Wales, significantly reducing reliance on traditional helicopter inspection crews. This move not only marks a major milestone for the Boeing-backed Irish firm but also positions it for substantial growth in the global drone technology market.
Sees.ai’s technology enables drones to operate Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), piloted from a central control room, allowing for safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly inspections of critical electricity infrastructure. The system, which has been rolled out following a four-year innovation programme, utilises artificial intelligence (AI) to capture high-resolution images and data, which are then processed to inform the electricity grid’s maintenance and investment decisions.
This shift from helicopter-based inspections to autonomous drones is expected to save millions of euros annually, with estimates suggesting a tenfold cost reduction compared to traditional methods. Moreover, the technology minimises the environmental impact of inspections and enhances safety by reducing the need for human crews to operate in hazardous conditions near live power lines.
The Dublin engineer, whose firm has also worked with major players like Vodafone and Network Rail, highlighted the potential for their technology to scale nationally and beyond, with applications in industries such as oil and gas, logistics, and emergency services.
The deployment follows years of collaboration with the England’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which in October 2024 introduced new rules enabling BVLOS drone operations at low heights near infrastructure, ensuring safety while fostering innovation. Sophie O’Sullivan, CAA’s Head of Future Safety and Innovation, praised the initiative, noting that it represents a significant step towards integrating drones into England’s airspace for routine infrastructure maintenance. The technology’s ability to capture consistent, high-quality data also allows for advanced AI analysis, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing the risk of network failures.
the electricity grid’s adoption of Sees.ai’s system is seen as a global first, positioning the company as a leader in digital grid operations.
Kathryn Fairhurst, the electricity grid’s Overhead Line Operations Director, emphasised the benefits of the technology, stating that it allows skilled line workers and helicopter crews to focus on specialised tasks, enhancing overall network reliability. The system’s ability to operate drones remotely across vast distances is particularly valuable for inspecting the 7,200 miles of overhead lines in remote or hard-to-access locations, a task previously reliant on costly and high-risk helicopter missions.
For Sees.ai, the partnership with the electricity grid is a testament to its rapid growth since its founding. Backed by Boeing and other investors, the company has secured permissions to operate BVLOS drones in non-segregated airspace, a feat achieved by only a handful of firms worldwide. With this milestone, Sees.ai is poised to expand its reach, potentially transforming infrastructure inspection practices globally while cementing Ireland’s place at the forefront of drone technology innovation.
John McKenna, CEO of Sees.ai, expressed pride in the achievement, stating that the contract with the electricity grid validates the maturity of their technology. “This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when innovation, infrastructure, and regulation align to support long-term energy goals.”
