Eaton Announces Breakthrough, AI-Powered Innovation to Help Utilities Strengthen Wildfire Prevention Efforts
Eaton (ETN) has unveiled a breakthrough innovation in wildfire prevention for utility distribution systems. The company's new HiZ Protect™ solution, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, addresses the challenge of detecting high-impedance (HiZ) powerline faults that could trigger wildfires.
The technology has demonstrated over 90% accuracy in detecting and de-energizing HiZ faults under lab-simulated conditions using real-world grid data. The solution incorporates integrated sensors, machine learning, and edge-based implementation, deployable in grid-edge monitoring devices like Eaton's Form-7 recloser controls.
Currently in pilot testing with multiple North American utilities, the technology was developed through extensive research at Eaton's Thomas A. Edison Test Center, analyzing various environmental conditions and fault signatures. The company reported revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024 and serves customers in over 160 countries.
Eaton (ETN) ha svelato un'innovazione rivoluzionaria nella prevenzione degli incendi boschivi per i sistemi di distribuzione dell'energia. La nuova soluzione HiZ Protect™, sviluppata in collaborazione con il Corpo degli Ingegneri dell'Esercito degli Stati Uniti e il Laboratorio Nazionale per le Energie Rinnovabili, affronta la sfida di rilevare i guasti ad alta impedenza (HiZ) delle linee elettriche che potrebbero innescare incendi boschivi.
La tecnologia ha dimostrato un'accuratezza superiore al 90% nel rilevare e disattivare i guasti HiZ in condizioni simulate in laboratorio utilizzando dati reali della rete. La soluzione incorpora sensori integrati, apprendimento automatico e implementazione basata su edge, utilizzabile in dispositivi di monitoraggio della rete come i controlli recloser Form-7 di Eaton.
Attualmente in fase di test pilota con diverse utility nordamericane, la tecnologia è stata sviluppata attraverso una ricerca approfondita presso il Centro di Test Thomas A. Edison di Eaton, analizzando varie condizioni ambientali e firme di guasto. L'azienda ha riportato ricavi di quasi 25 miliardi di dollari nel 2024 e serve clienti in oltre 160 paesi.
Eaton (ETN) ha presentado una innovación revolucionaria en la prevención de incendios forestales para los sistemas de distribución de energía. La nueva solución HiZ Protect™, desarrollada en colaboración con el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de EE. UU. y el Laboratorio Nacional de Energías Renovables, aborda el desafío de detectar fallos de línea de alta impedancia (HiZ) que podrían desencadenar incendios forestales.
La tecnología ha demostrado una precisión superior al 90% en la detección y desactivación de fallos HiZ en condiciones simuladas en laboratorio utilizando datos reales de la red. La solución incorpora sensores integrados, aprendizaje automático e implementación basada en edge, que se puede implementar en dispositivos de monitoreo de red como los controles recloser Form-7 de Eaton.
Actualmente en pruebas piloto con varias empresas de servicios públicos de América del Norte, la tecnología se desarrolló a través de una investigación exhaustiva en el Centro de Pruebas Thomas A. Edison de Eaton, analizando diversas condiciones ambientales y firmas de fallos. La empresa reportó ingresos de casi 25 mil millones de dólares en 2024 y atiende a clientes en más de 160 países.
이튼 (ETN)이 유틸리티 배전 시스템을 위한 산불 예방에서 혁신적인 기술을 공개했습니다. 이 회사의 새로운 HiZ Protect™ 솔루션은 미국 육군 공병대 및 국가 재생 에너지 연구소와 협력하여 개발되었으며, 산불을 유발할 수 있는 고임피던스(HiZ) 전력선 결함을 감지하는 문제를 해결합니다.
이 기술은 실제 전력망 데이터를 사용하여 실험실에서 시뮬레이션된 조건에서 HiZ 결함을 감지하고 비활성화하는 데 90% 이상의 정확도를 보여주었습니다. 이 솔루션은 통합 센서, 머신러닝 및 엣지 기반 구현을 포함하며, 이튼의 Form-7 리클로저 제어기와 같은 그리드 엣지 모니터링 장치에 배포할 수 있습니다.
현재 북미의 여러 유틸리티와 파일럿 테스트 중인 이 기술은 이튼의 토마스 A. 에디슨 테스트 센터에서 다양한 환경 조건과 결함 신호를 분석하여 광범위한 연구를 통해 개발되었습니다. 이 회사는 2024년에 거의 250억 달러의 수익을 보고했으며, 160개국 이상에서 고객에게 서비스를 제공합니다.
Eaton (ETN) a dévoilé une innovation révolutionnaire dans la prévention des incendies de forêt pour les systèmes de distribution d'énergie. La nouvelle solution HiZ Protect™, développée en collaboration avec le Corps des ingénieurs de l'armée américaine et le Laboratoire national des énergies renouvelables, répond au défi de détecter les défauts de ligne à haute impédance (HiZ) qui pourraient déclencher des incendies de forêt.
La technologie a démontré une précision de plus de 90% dans la détection et la désactivation des défauts HiZ dans des conditions simulées en laboratoire en utilisant des données réelles du réseau. La solution intègre des capteurs, de l'apprentissage automatique et une mise en œuvre basée sur l'edge, déployable dans des dispositifs de surveillance en bordure de réseau tels que les contrôles recloser Form-7 d'Eaton.
Actuellement en phase de test pilote avec plusieurs entreprises de services publics nord-américaines, la technologie a été développée grâce à des recherches approfondies au Centre de test Thomas A. Edison d'Eaton, analysant diverses conditions environnementales et signatures de défauts. L'entreprise a rapporté des revenus de près de 25 milliards de dollars en 2024 et sert des clients dans plus de 160 pays.
Eaton (ETN) hat eine bahnbrechende Innovation zur Wildfeuerprävention für Verteilungsnetze vorgestellt. Die neue HiZ Protect™ Lösung, die in Zusammenarbeit mit dem US Army Corps of Engineers und dem National Renewable Energy Laboratory entwickelt wurde, stellt sich der Herausforderung, Hochimpedanz (HiZ) Fehler an Stromleitungen zu erkennen, die Waldbrände auslösen könnten.
Die Technologie hat eine Über 90% Genauigkeit bei der Erkennung und Deaktivierung von HiZ-Fehlern unter labor-simulierten Bedingungen mit realen Netzdaten demonstriert. Die Lösung umfasst integrierte Sensoren, maschinelles Lernen und eine Edge-basierte Implementierung, die in Überwachungsgeräten am Netzrand wie den Form-7-Rückschaltsteuerungen von Eaton eingesetzt werden kann.
Aktuell befindet sich die Technologie in der Pilotphase mit mehreren nordamerikanischen Versorgungsunternehmen und wurde durch umfangreiche Forschung im Thomas A. Edison Test Center von Eaton entwickelt, wo verschiedene Umweltbedingungen und Fehlermerkmale analysiert wurden. Das Unternehmen berichtete von Umsätzen von fast 25 Milliarden Dollar im Jahr 2024 und bedient Kunden in über 160 Ländern.
- Breakthrough technology with over 90% accuracy in detecting potential wildfire-causing faults
- Strategic partnerships with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Multiple pilot projects already underway with North American utilities
- Strong revenue performance of $25 billion in 2024
- Technology addresses a critical market need for utilities' wildfire prevention efforts
- Technology still in pilot phase, not yet commercially available
- Success in real-world conditions yet to be proven beyond lab simulations
Insights
Eaton's new HiZ Protect™ technology represents a significant innovation in the critical field of wildfire mitigation for utilities. The technology addresses a persistent challenge in the industry - detecting high-impedance faults that can spark wildfires but are historically difficult to identify due to their low fault current characteristics.
What makes this development particularly valuable is the >90% accuracy rate in lab testing, which substantially outperforms existing protection technologies that struggle with these fault types. The system's edge-based implementation strategy is especially noteworthy, as it enables rapid response in remote areas with communication infrastructure - precisely where wildfire risks are highest.
For utilities facing increasing wildfire liabilities and currently resorting to public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), this technology could offer a more targeted and less disruptive approach to risk management. The integration with Eaton's existing Form-7 recloser controls suggests a deployment path that minimizes infrastructure changes for adoption.
The collaborative development with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NREL, and multiple utilities lends significant credibility to the solution. This approach has likely helped ensure the technology addresses real-world operational challenges across various environmental conditions - a critical factor for widespread utility adoption.
This innovation positions Eaton strategically in the rapidly growing market for grid resilience and wildfire mitigation technologies. With utilities under mounting regulatory pressure and financial exposure from wildfire liability, solutions that can accurately detect potential ignition sources represent high-value investments for these companies.
The technology's edge-computing approach is financially significant as it potentially offers a lower total cost of implementation compared to centralized systems requiring extensive communications infrastructure. For utilities with vast rural service territories, this represents substantial deployment cost advantages.
Eaton's established market position with North American utilities provides an existing channel for commercialization. With the company reporting nearly $25 billion in 2024 revenue, this technology aligns with their focus on high-margin, software-enabled power management solutions that can drive recurring revenue models through service subscriptions and upgrades.
While immediate revenue impact wasn't disclosed, the pilot projects with multiple utilities indicate a path to commercialization within a reasonable timeframe. The integration with Eaton's Form-7 recloser controls suggests a practical deployment strategy that leverages their existing product ecosystem, potentially accelerating adoption rates and creating pull-through sales of complementary equipment.
- Lab simulations and testing demonstrate highly accurate, fast fault detection technology designed for grid-edge implementation on utility distribution lines
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Collaboration among
Eaton ,U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC), National Renewable Energy Laboratory and North American utilities drives novel solution -
Eaton to present on wildfire mitigation technologies at the 2025 DistribuTECH and TechAdvantage industry conferences
Existing grid protection technologies struggle to accurately prevent or identify HiZ faults, prompting utilities to resort to public safety power shutoffs during high-risk conditions. Eaton’s HiZ Protect technology will help strengthen utility wildfire prevention efforts by automatically and accurately identifying and isolating these powerline faults. Under lab-simulated conditions and using real-world grid data from multiple utilities, the
“Fortifying the electric grid against the threat of wildfires has never been more important and at
HiZ faults, often caused by fallen trees or damaged insulators, are historically difficult to detect due to their low fault current levels and unique characteristics. Eaton’s approach to identifying and mitigating high-impedance faults incorporates three novel elements including, integrated sensors, machine learning and edge-based implementation. The solution can be deployed in grid-edge monitoring and control devices such as Eaton’s Form-7 recloser controls to provide high-fidelity data. This capability is critical in remote areas, where communication infrastructure is limited and the ability to rapidly respond to grid conditions is essential.
“It is critically important be able to identify fault situations and take action to de-energize impacted power lines and curtail risk of wildfire to protect people and property, including military and utility systems,” said Nathan Peterson, electrical engineer at the USACE ERDC Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL). “We believe
The
During the 2025 DistribuTECH conference in March 2025, Souvik Chandra, PhD, a senior specialist engineer at Eaton’s Research Labs, will participate in a panel discussion on the strategies utilities are deploying to mitigate wildfire risks, including Eaton’s novel fault detection technology.
Learn more about Eaton’s approach to wildfire mitigation and read the white paper on harnessing artificial intelligence for high impedance fault detection and mitigation.
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Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com
Regina Parundik
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com
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