On Sept. 29, the European Space Agency opened a call developed with Slovenian grid operator ELES for operational services using Earth observation, satellite communications and navigation technologies. The initiative is designed to support commercial services based on satellite data, artificial intelligence and digital twins. Slovenia has also pre-authorised funding for eligible domestic applicants.
Applications close on Nov. 27. Projects may receive zero-equity ESA co-funding covering as much as 50-80% of costs, depending on company status and national approval. The programme is not primarily a research exercise, and ESA is seeking market-ready concepts with sustainable commercial business models and operational customers.
Operational services targeted for grid forecasting and network analytics
The use cases include renewable-generation and demand forecasting, congestion analysis and dynamic thermal ratings. They also cover infrastructure monitoring, predictive maintenance, vegetation management and the integration of external data into grid digital twins. Many of these services can be delivered without building another substation or transmission line.
Satellite-derived weather information can improve forecasts of solar irradiation, wind conditions and ambient temperature. Those inputs can then be used to improve renewable forecasts and load-flow calculations. The same weather inputs can support dynamic thermal rating, where overhead line capacity varies according to temperature, wind and other real-time conditions rather than a conservative static limit.
Dynamic thermal rating can release additional transmission capacity from existing infrastructure. Satellite imagery can also identify vegetation encroachment, landslides, wildfire exposure or other physical threats along long transmission corridors. This approach links external observations to operational network analysis through digital twins.
Subscription model for continuously updated datasets
The commercial model differs from traditional utility procurement. Instead of purchasing a sensor or engineering project once, grid operators could subscribe to continuously updated datasets and analytics. A technology company could sell grid intelligence as a service by combining satellite information, terrestrial sensors and artificial intelligence into an operational product used by control-room engineers.
ELES is positioned as a testing environment because Slovenia has a heavily interconnected electricity system and significant renewable-development ambitions. Network constraints are increasingly influenced by weather-dependent generation and regional power flows. The programme could also create export opportunities for services developed in Slovenia.
Regional relevance for Southeast Europe networks
Transmission and distribution networks across Southeast Europe face ageing infrastructure, renewable integration challenges, vegetation risks and extreme weather events. Operators also face pressure to extract more capacity from existing lines before expensive reinforcement is completed. A Slovenian-developed platform could therefore be offered to operators elsewhere in the region.
The initiative creates potential participation beyond the traditional electricity-equipment supply chain. Satellite-data companies, AI developers, weather-analysis specialists, drone operators, digital-twin companies and grid-software providers could compete alongside conventional engineering firms. Utilities may still rely on traditional network CAPEX while some capacity and reliability gains come from improved information.
If a utility can increase usable line capacity through better knowledge of real-time weather conditions or identify vegetation risks before outages occur, software could postpone or reduce physical expenditure. The economics are described as particularly attractive where permitting and construction of new transmission infrastructure take years. There is also a link with insurance and resilience through improved information about wildfire, flood and landslide exposure.
Better visibility into wildfire, flood, landslide and weather exposure can improve maintenance planning and help utilities and insurers quantify infrastructure risks more accurately. Digital twins can combine those datasets with actual grid topology and equipment condition. The programme therefore tests whether grid data itself can become a scalable energy-sector product through operational services delivered to customers.