Neura Robotics Partners With E.ON, enviaM to Develop Robots for Power Grid Operations

Insider Brief

• Neura Robotics is partnering with E.ON and enviaM to develop AI-powered robots for inspecting electricity grids and handling physically demanding or hazardous tasks, with initial field testing expected in 2027.
• The robots will be trained at TUM RoboGym in Munich using human demonstrations, real-world robot data and simulations before selected applications are tested by enviaM subsidiary Mitnetz Strom in operating grid facilities.
• The partnership will use Neura’s Neuraverse physical AI platform to develop reusable robotic skills for infrastructure inspections, substation monitoring and site security, while E.ON and enviaM retain control of their data and trained capabilities.

Neura Robotics is partnering with energy companies E.ON and enviaM to develop AI-powered robots for inspecting electrical infrastructure and performing potentially hazardous or physically demanding tasks, with initial field experience expected in 2027.

According to the German robotics company, the partnership will use its Neuraverse physical AI platform to develop robotic skills for electricity grid operations. The robots will first be trained at the TUM RoboGym in Munich before selected applications are tested by Mitnetz Strom, enviaM’s grid subsidiary, under real operating conditions.

Initial focus will be on inspections, monitoring critical equipment such as substations and supporting site security. The partners will also assess whether robots could perform tasks in potentially hazardous environments.

Neura founder and CEO David Reger said the partnership will use Neuraverse to translate the expertise of energy workers into robotic skills, allowing machines trained at Neura’s robotics centers to take on demanding tasks and improve safety.

“Physical AI and cognitive robotics will fundamentally reshape the energy sector,” noted Reger. “The key is to combine technological progress with the practical expertise of the people who operate our energy infrastructure every day. That is precisely where we come in: with Physical AI that supports these people and opens up new possibilities for them.”

Stephan Lowis, CEO of enviaM Group, said humanoid robots could eventually perform routine and physically demanding work, including jobs involving safety risks, allowing skilled employees to concentrate on more specialized tasks.

“Electricity grids are the backbone of our society,” Lowis said. “They face greater demands than ever: electrification and the transformation of the energy supply require power lines and assets to be expanded, modernised and continuously monitored. This partnership brings next-generation technology to where it can deliver tangible value — day-to-day grid operations.”

Training Robots for Grid Operations

The partnership will use TUM RoboGym, a robotics training facility opened in October 2026 by Neura and the Technical University of Munich at Munich Airport’s LabCampus.

The center covers more than 2,300 square meters and brings together robotics research, training and industrial applications. Companies from more than 10 industries are already using the facility to train robots for specific jobs.

E.ON will contribute expertise from electricity grid operations, working with Neura and Mitnetz Strom to identify tasks suitable for robotic automation.

“The energy transition needs strong grids, and strong grids need innovation,” added senior vice president innovation at E.ON Stefan Padberg. “Together with enviaM and Neura Robotics, we are demonstrating how innovation translates into practical grid operations — and how digital technologies can improve safety, make processes more efficient and create smarter, more resilient energy infrastructure.”

The training process combines three approaches:

• Human demonstrations: Grid workers demonstrate tasks using sensor-equipped suits, motion capture systems and remotely operated robots to record their movements and techniques.
• Real-world robot data: Robots perform tasks while sensors record movements, physical contact and the results of their actions.
• Simulation: Virtual environments introduce additional situations and operating conditions, with the resulting skills tested on physical robots.

Neura said E.ON and enviaM will retain control of their operational data and trained robotic skills, including decisions about whether to share them with other organizations.

Teams from Neura, E.ON and Mitnetz Strom will work with experienced grid employees to identify specific applications and develop the required capabilities. Results from the subsequent field tests will be used to improve the robotic skills and training platform.

Mitnetz Strom operates approximately 71,000 kilometers of electricity distribution lines across parts of eastern Germany. Its parent, enviaM, supplies electricity, gas, heat and energy services to about 1.1 million customers.

E.ON, the principal shareholder of enviaM, operates a distribution network spanning approximately 1.6 million kilometers and serves around 47 million customers.