Revolutionizing Worker Ergonomics in Power Grid Maintenance

Challenge overview:

In the wake of the energy transition, the demand for expanding and upgrading local electricity grids is skyrocketing. At Stedin, a leading Dutch grid operator, we face a pressing challenge: How can we improve the ergonomics of the workforce tasked with laying, upgrading, and maintaining these critical infrastructures? We're on the hunt for innovative tech solutions that can make a real difference, from proven methods applied abroad, to concepts that have worked in other industries, to completely fresh and untested ideas. Your solution could redefine the future of our workforce, preferably within a timeframe of four years or less.

The challenge unpacked:

Our workers are the backbone of the energy transition, but they're stretched to their limits. The physical strain from battling the elements, handling increasingly cumbersome materials, and working in cramped conditions is taking its toll. With an aging workforce and a shrinking pool of qualified personnel, it's more crucial than ever to find ways to make this work accessible and sustainable for everyone - including the less physically endowed.

What we're looking for:

• Solutions that assist, replace, or entirely remove the need for heavy lifting, excavation, and/or other types of manual labor involved in laying cables, installing substations, and more.
• Solutions that enable us to move part of this process out of the field through e.g. prefabrication or modularisation.
• Innovative approaches to working in tight spaces underground or in challenging weather conditions.
• Ideas that could open up this field to a more diverse workforce, ensuring everyone can contribute to and benefit from the energy transition.

Why it matters:

This isn't just about improving job conditions; it's about ensuring our society can meet its ambitious energy goals. By enhancing worker ergonomics, we can retain our experienced employees longer, let them reach their retirement in good health, attract new talent, and ultimately, power the future more efficiently and sustainably.

What it looks like:

Inside a typical legacy substation

Installing a substation

Working in a busy underground

Who are we:

Stedin operates a crucial part of the Netherlands' energy infrastructure, connecting millions of homes and businesses to reliable power. Help us ensure that our workforce can keep the lights on, without compromising their health and well-being.

Join us:

If you're ready to make a tangible impact on the future of energy and worker welfare, we want to hear from you.

Send in your solution through this platform and we will be in touch with you soon!