Avangrid’s First Time Right Autopilot Revolutionizes Field Operations With Generative AI

Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has introduced a groundbreaking solution designed to transform its field operations, resulting in faster troubleshooting and improved operational efficiency. The new tool, called First Time Right Autopilot (patent pending), harnesses the power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to support Avangrid’s field technicians in diagnosing and resolving issues on wind turbines more effectively. This innovation aims to minimize downtime and ensure a steady supply of clean energy for homes, businesses, and industries across the country.

The process is simple yet powerful. When a technician encounters an issue, they can activate the AI-powered autopilot directly from their mobile device using voice or text commands. The system promptly collects relevant data to identify the problem’s nature and scope. It then provides the technician with clear, step-by-step instructions to address the issue, often accompanied by supporting documents or instructional videos. In essence, the First Time Right Autopilot serves as a virtual expert, guiding technicians through complex diagnostics and repair procedures in real time.

Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO, stated, “The First Time Right Autopilot is the perfect example of Avangrid and Iberdrola leading the way when it comes to innovation in our sector. By leveraging generative AI to provide real-time, expert-level support, we are empowering our technicians with the tools they need to improve reliability and efficiency within our fleet. This is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of energy through continuous innovation and technological advancement.”

Joseph Santamaria, Director, Solutions Architect, AWS Energy, said in a statement, “We are excited to work with Avangrid and Iberdrola to create immediate business value with our industry-leading generative AI technology. AI, and Generative AI in particular, are transforming the Power and Utility industry, from grid operations and asset management to worker safety and back-office efficiencies, with the collaboration between Avangrid and AWS being a leading example.”

This cutting-edge tool was developed using Amazon Bedrock, an AWS service that offers access to high-performing foundation models (FMs) from top AI providers. Avangrid further enhanced the solution by training the AI with its vast repository of advanced engineering guides and operational knowledge, creating a highly specialized assistant tailored to wind turbine maintenance.

Ryan Haley, senior manager of field operations at Avangrid, mentioned, “We were one of the first within Avangrid to use First Time Right Autopilot and it demonstrated good performance for our technicians. It is a very promising tool that will get even better as we train the AI models with more information.”

The First Time Right Autopilot has already been deployed at two Avangrid wind plants — one in Iowa and another in New York — and the company plans to roll it out across its entire fleet by 2025. Avangrid is also actively exploring additional ways to leverage this technology to enhance overall business performance and streamline other operational processes. With this innovation, Avangrid is not only enhancing efficiency but also empowering its workforce with advanced tools to support the continued growth of renewable energy infrastructure.