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YEAR ONE IMPACT REPORT
Table of Contents

Sees.ai

sees.ai
Sees.ai
Networked autonomy and key approvals position Sees.AI to lead climate‑resilient inspections globally
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sees.AI delivers autonomous drone‑OS technology for BVLOS inspections of critical grid assets, sharply reducing the costs and emissions associated with traditional manned flights. Combining a major regulatory breakthrough with a multiyear National Grid contract, advanced autonomy, and a networked operating system, Sees.AI is positioned to lead the shift toward climate‑resilient, scalable aerial infrastructure monitoring.

Problem

Europe’s electrical grid still depends on manned helicopter flights for routine infrastructure inspections, creating unnecessary environmental impact and high operational costs. While some Distribution Network Operators use unmanned aerial systems, these are restricted to Within Line of Sight, limiting coverage. Transitioning to Beyond Visual Line of Sight would expand monitoring, but current systems cannot be adapted, and developing compliant BVLOS aircraft is prohibitively expensive and unlikely to secure CAA approval. At the same time, renewable‑energy expansion exposes hidden externality costs: grid upgrades, smart‑infrastructure investments, and labour‑intensive inspections. These overlooked expenses—often excluded from LCOE—ultimately fall on consumers and slow the clean‑energy transition.

Solution

Sees.AI develops operating‑system technology that enables fleets of drones to conduct safe, large‑scale autonomous inspections of critical infrastructure. With the UK Civil Aviation Authority granting the country’s most advanced BVLOS permission, Sees.AI is positioned to replace environmentally harmful manned helicopter flights with unmanned aerial systems that dramatically reduce carbon impact. At the same time, BVLOS‑enabled autonomy unlocks major cost efficiencies: by removing the need for manned flights and labour‑intensive ground crews, Sees.AI can significantly lower inspection expenses for grid operators. Together, these advances offer a cleaner, safer, and more economical pathway for modernising electricity‑grid monitoring.

Sees.ai Impact Overview

Sees.AI’s operating‑system technology combines autonomous drone‑fleet software, remote human supervision, proprietary data‑mining and analysis, and third‑party drone hardware to enable safe, large‑scale aerial operations. These inputs are shaped around client use cases, creating a foundation for autonomous inspections that meet stringent aviation‑safety requirements. Together, they allow Sees.AI to deliver a scalable alternative to carbon‑intensive manned helicopter flights.

Through integrated edge‑AI, continuous learning, and compliant fleet deployment, Sees.AI executes autonomous inspections that adhere to UK Civil Aviation Authority standards, including advanced BVLOS permissions. This activity produces a next‑generation aerial‑inspection system for National Grid infrastructure, replacing fossil‑fuelled helicopter operations. Early studies show drone‑based inspections can reduce emissions by roughly 10 tons of CO₂ per 1,000 kilometres, compared with helicopters emitting 11.7 kg per kilometre.
As more tower assets are inspected autonomously, grid operators gain a safer, lower‑carbon, and more cost‑efficient monitoring method. Over time, this drives measurable emissions mitigation across National Grid’s operational footprint.

Impact KPIs

Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Status
GREEN

sees.ai delivered 84% of its Year 1 target and plans to use this metric as the basis for setting KPI 1 targets in the years ahead.

KPI 1
Total number of tower assets / asset equivalents inspected using Sees.AI system

Impact Measurement & Management Status Key

  • GREEN

    Green Tag: Monitoring Framework Set

    Fully Set Up & Active Insights: Portfolio companies marked in green, have fully set up their Impact KPI framework. We provide comprehensive insights into their metrics and verified impact outcomes.

  • BLUE

    Blue Tag: KPI Target Set

    Data Collection & Target Calibration: Portfolio companies marked in blue are actively collecting data points to set accurate, realistic targets for their Impact KPIs.

  • ORANGE

    Orange Tag: Early Stage & Onboarding

    Deal Closed, IAC Endorsed, KPIs Set: Portfolio companies marked in orange are at the beginning of the IMM process, having only recently joined our portfolio. They have established initial KPI alignment with the investment team and with guidance from our Impact Advisory Committee (IAC).