Neara’s AI and machine learning-powered solutions revolutionize the way utility companies prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. By creating digital models of power networks and leveraging advanced technologies like LiDAR, Neara enables utilities to accurately assess risks and simulate the impact of weather-related hazards. This proactive approach enhances the speed and effectiveness of restoration efforts, minimizes downtime, and ensures the safety of utility teams and communities. Through strategic partnerships and continuous innovation, Neara remains at the forefront of utility protection, helping companies stay ahead of the curve amidst the increasing challenges posed by climate change. By harnessing the power of AI, Neara empowers utilities to mitigate risks, enhance resilience, and uphold their commitment to delivering reliable electricity services even in the face of adverse weather conditions.
Neara, a trailblazing startup headquartered in Redfern, Australia, is at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to shield utility companies from the escalating impacts of extreme weather events. With a mission to enhance the resilience and reliability of power networks, Neara offers innovative solutions that enable utilities to proactively assess risks, simulate weather-related scenarios, and expedite restoration efforts. By harnessing advanced technologies like LiDAR and satellite imagery, Neara empowers utilities to create comprehensive digital models of their infrastructure, facilitating more efficient decision-making and resource allocation. As climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of extreme weather events worldwide, Neara’s pioneering approach plays a pivotal role in safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of electricity to communities.
Since its commercial launch in 2019, Neara has secured a total funding of $45 million AUD (approximately $29.3 million USD) from prominent investors such as Square Peg Capital, Skip Capital, and Press Ventures. Its impressive roster of clients includes industry giants like Essential Energy, Endeavour Energy, and SA Power Networks, along with strategic partnerships with Southern California Edison Co and EMPACT Engineering.
At the heart of Neara’s innovative approach lies its AI and machine learning-powered products, which enable utility companies to create comprehensive models of their power networks and assess potential risks without the need for manual surveys. By leveraging advanced technology, Neara empowers utilities to analyze existing infrastructure with unprecedented efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
Jack Curtis, co-founder of Neara, emphasizes the critical role played by AI and machine learning in enhancing the resilience of utility networks. By integrating these capabilities into its platform, Neara enables utilities to simulate the impact of extreme weather events on electricity supplies, thereby expediting power restoration efforts, ensuring the safety of utility teams, and minimizing the adverse effects of weather-related disruptions.
“The increasing frequency and severity of severe weather motivates our product development more so than any one event,” explains Curtis. He cites recent examples such as Storm Isha in the United Kingdom, winter storms causing widespread blackouts in the United States, and tropical cyclones affecting Australia’s electricity grid, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate weather-related risks.
Neara’s AI and machine learning algorithms are trained on vast datasets comprising over one million miles of diverse network territory, enabling the platform to capture subtle yet consequential nuances with unparalleled accuracy. Central to this process is the utilization of LiDAR technology, which facilitates the precise simulation of weather events and ensures the reliability of digital network models.
One of Neara’s key offerings is its ability to predict and mitigate various weather-related hazards, including high winds, wildfires, flooding, and ice buildup, thereby enabling utilities to proactively address potential vulnerabilities and enhance their response capabilities.
By harnessing LiDAR and satellite imagery, Neara assists utility companies in identifying vegetation prone to wildfires with greater accuracy than traditional manual surveys. Moreover, Neara’s platform streamlines the inspection process by guiding survey teams to high-risk areas, thereby improving data consistency and minimizing operational risks.
In a notable case study, Neara collaborated with SA Power Networks following the devastating River Murray flooding crisis in southern Australia. By leveraging LiDAR data and advanced modeling techniques, Neara facilitated rapid flood impact assessment, enabling SA Power Networks to expedite restoration efforts and minimize downtime.
The transformative impact of Neara’s technology was evident as SA Power Networks completed a comprehensive analysis of 21,000 power line spans within the flood-affected area in just 15 minutes, a task that would have otherwise taken months to accomplish. This accelerated response enabled SA Power Networks to re-energize power lines within five days, significantly ahead of the initial three-week timeline.
Looking ahead, Neara remains committed to advancing its AI and machine learning capabilities, with a focus on enhancing the value derived from live and historical data. The company is also exploring new avenues such as image recognition and photogrammetry to expand its repertoire of data sources for modeling purposes.
Through strategic collaborations with industry leaders like Essential Energy, Neara aims to revolutionize asset assessment processes, enabling utilities to gain deeper insights into the resilience of their infrastructure and proactively mitigate risks during extreme weather events.
Neara’s groundbreaking AI solutions represent a paradigm shift in utility protection, offering a proactive approach to mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and vast datasets, Neara enables utilities to anticipate, prepare for, and effectively respond to weather-related disruptions. The platform’s ability to create digital models of power networks and simulate various scenarios empowers utilities to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and ensure the uninterrupted supply of electricity to communities. As climate change continues to pose unprecedented challenges, Neara remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, resilience, and sustainability. Through collaboration, research, and continuous improvement, Neara is reshaping the landscape of utility protection, ushering in a new era of resilience where power networks are fortified against the forces of nature, and communities thrive in the face of adversity.
