New 5G trial in Portugal

‘Living Lab’ project brings together EDP and Vodafone for a new 5G dam trial.

According to Vodafone Portugal, in collaboration with EDP, Castelo de Bode, which now has a living laboratory -‘Living Lab’- to test technology, this is the first dam in Europe “and even in the world” to have 5G installed. Some of the experiences that EDP is exploring with Vodafone 5G include a “drone” that performs real-time inspection of the Castelo de Bode dam and the “Lone Worker” geolocation that enhances worker safety. The Castelo do Bode dam was selected for the 5G trial because, according to the corporation, it is a representative asset of EDP’s energy-generating industry.

In order to enhance the automation and safety of the Castelo de Bode dam, in Tomar’s municipality, which supplies citizens of Lisbon and surrounding towns, EDP’s living laboratory is creating new mechanisms. Regarding security, EDP is developing the phone application ‘Lone Worker’ which allows “to monitor the team that is operating and (…) where workers can launch alerts in case of any problem they feel, any sickness or any security problem”, Tiago Marques, the director of the digital area at ‘EDP Geração’ has explained.

As Tiago Marques explains, a different test involves a “drone” that uses the 5G network to transmit real-time, high-resolution images and can avoid birds if they happen to come across one during the flight. This eliminates the need for “human intervention” and enables “inspection of a set of critical infrastructures and equipment throughout this installation”.

The partnership between EDP and Vodafone makes it possible for employees to assist with maintenance duties by using a tool called amplified reality. According to EDP, people can execute maintenance jobs with these glasses without any prior knowledge, by following a set of instructions displayed through the glasses for each task. The collaboration with Vodafone anticipates that the communications services supporting the “Living Lab” will be sustained for three years, from the official commencement of the trial project on 4 April.