They are already installed in Florence, Bari and Genoa, and will soon be installed in other Italian cities. They are the new Enel road boxes, whose story we tell. These are not banal objects: the Enel box was recognized as valid for the candidacy of the ADI Design Index, an award promoted by the prestigious Association for Industrial Design (ADI) and aimed at the excellence of Made in Italy. To frame the energy scenario in which it was born, it should be highlighted how the ongoing energy transition has a decisive impact on electricity networks. With the advent of increasingly widespread renewable sources, with the progressive electrification of industry and transport, electricity networks – in particular distribution ones – will become more significantly the center of gravity of the new energy system. To address this context, Enel Grids – world leader in the distribution of electricity through efficient, resilient and digital networks – has undertaken a series of initiatives for technological and sustainable renewal. Among these is the new road box, which promotes the digitalisation of the network.
Advanced and digital tools for further developments
On the tapes, the company’s staff – a joint-stock company whose majority share is controlled by the State, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance – works every day to guarantee the integrity of the system. The evolution of these structures has seen Enel, in recent years, make a series of innovations, with advanced and digital tools for monitoring electrical and environmental data, as well as near-real time energy measurement systems spread across the network. The new design of the boxes – registered by Enel – was necessary to enhance their safety and make them more modern: form and content merge for further developments.
Beautiful to look at, easy to dispose of
The innovative concept, by Tangity part of Ntt Data design network, improves the visual impact and is made with materials that respect the circular economy and sustainability, a winning combination of contemporary work. The modularity of the box makes it easier to recycle and recover the components at the end of their life. Installation and maintenance is easier and safer, the internal housing is designed in a more functional way and makes the most of the available space. In fact, it can accommodate, with the same size, a greater number of smart components, essential for improving the service. Last but not least, greater durability of the components and greater safety are guaranteed. As? Thanks to an optimized natural ventilation system, anti-intrusion door closure and improved ergonomics. The arrival of the high-design box demonstrates how innovation is a continuous process based on the principles of safety, efficiency, resilience, as well as on dialogue with the social and environmental context. And it’s nothing new: in the 2000s, Enel was among the first utilities in the world to experiment and apply smart grid technology on a large scale, with one of the most futuristic projects for the installation of smart meters, automation and remote control of the electricity grid .
