AES Announces Winners of Open Innovation Contest at 2017 Innovation Congress
July 12 2017 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Proposed New Solutions are for Unmanned Inspections in Extreme
Heat, a $1 Billion Problem for the Global Power Industry
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) today announced the winners
of its Open Innovation Contest targeted at identifying innovative
unmanned inspection solutions for extreme heat environments to help
AES avoid hazardous work hours during manual inspections of energy
infrastructure while increasing energy availability for
customers.
Contest Winners and Proposed Solutions:
- Roland Bruyns (individual, USA):
Polymer enshrouded drone
- Sonya Davidson (H2 Energy Now LLC,
Israel): Ceramic encased drone
- Alexander de Melo (Lexno Industrias,
Brazil): Thermoelectric cooled drone
- David Espinosa Duran (Aronax
Technologies Group LLC, Spain): Sound imaging camera
The contest winners were unveiled at AES’ 2017 Innovation
Congress, a biennial global event where people from across AES
convene to showcase ideas and solutions that are shaping the power
industry for the future and to celebrate innovation.
“The rapid rate of change and shifting dynamics in the power
sector demand new and forward-thinking solutions from inside and
outside the industry,” said Bernerd Da Santos, AES Senior Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer. “AES’ Open Innovation
Contest is part of our applied innovation approach to adapt proven
technologies in other sectors for use in the power industry. The
smart application of technologies, such as drones, for existing and
emerging power system challenges helps us to rethink our approach
and will transform the future of the global electric utility
industry.”
It is estimated that more than 20 GW of generation capacity is
offline globally at all times due in part to outage-related
inspections, representing nearly $1 billion in lost power
capacity. When system failures that halt electricity generation
occur, operators typically need to wait until temperatures reach a
sufficiently low level to safely inspect the confined space and
repair equipment. This is both hazardous work and increases the
time it takes companies to begin generating electricity again.
“Safety is our number one value at AES. We are continually
seeking ways to keep our people and communities safer from the
inherent hazards of electricity,” Da Santos added. “The Open
Innovation Contest gives us a new vehicle to source ideas that both
increase the safety of our workplaces and improve the services we
provide to customers.”
AES launched its Open Innovation Contest in 2016, in partnership
with NineSigma, a company specializing in connecting organizations
with external innovation resources, to help advance a safer,
smarter workplace, and identify potential drones and robotics
solutions that can resist extreme heat. AES accepted proposals from
other companies, consultants, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs
and inventors. Submissions came in from nine countries, covering a
range of approaches, including drone designs, high temperature
resistant materials, acoustic technologies, applied sensor
technologies and robotics.
For more information about the contest, please go
to www.aes.com.
About AES
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 200
global power company. We provide affordable, sustainable energy to
17 countries through our diverse portfolio of distribution
businesses as well as thermal and renewable generation facilities.
Our workforce of 19,000 people is committed to operational
excellence and meeting the world’s changing power needs. Our 2016
revenues were $14 billion and we own and manage $36
billion in total assets. To learn more, please
visit www.aes.com. Follow AES on
Twitter @TheAESCorp.
About NineSigma
NineSigma helps organizations in the public, private and
nonprofit sectors find new solutions, knowledge and partners to
accelerate innovation. The leader in creating ‘unexpected
connections’, NineSigma has the largest open global network of
solvers and an extensive database of existing solutions spanning
numerous industries and technical disciplines. The company helps
for-profit and nonprofit organizations address problems of a global
magnitude through its Grand Challenge innovation programs. Learn
more at www.ninesigma.com.
AES Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but
are not limited to, those related to future earnings, growth and
financial and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are
not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead
constitute AES’ current expectations based on reasonable
assumptions. Forecasted financial information is based on certain
material assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not
limited to, our accurate projections of future interest rates,
commodity price and foreign currency pricing, continued normal
levels of operating performance and electricity volume at our
distribution companies and operational performance at our
generation businesses consistent with historical levels, as well as
achievements of planned productivity improvements and incremental
growth investments at normalized investment levels and rates of
return consistent with prior experience.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in
our forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and
other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results
are discussed in AES’ filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks
discussed under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and Item 7:
Management’s Discussion & Analysis in AES’ 2016 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC.
Readers are encouraged to read AES’ filings to learn more about the
risk factors associated with AES’ business. AES undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Any Stockholder who desires a copy of the Company’s 2016 Annual
Report on Form 10-K dated on or about February 27, 2017 with
the SEC may obtain a copy (excluding Exhibits) without charge by
addressing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The
AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
Exhibits also may be requested, but a charge equal to the
reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy of the Form 10-K may
be obtained by visiting the Company’s website
at www.aes.com.
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The AES CorporationInvestor Contact:Ahmed Pasha,
703-682-6451orMedia Contact:Amy Ackerman, 703-682-6399
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