Following its acquisition of a key competitor earlier this year, Italgas has become Europe’s largest gas distributor, with a network spanning more than 150,000 kilometres and over 12.9 million customers across Italy and Greece. The company’s expansion brought with it a pressing need to strengthen the protection of remote assets, many located in challenging environments without access to connectivity or the power grid.
For Elisa Riservato, Security Manager at Italgas, the answer was Reconeyez’ AI-powered, cloud-enabled, fully autonomous security system.
“We have over a thousand assets that need protection, which range from remote gas distribution stations and water distribution facilities to offices not yet operational,” says Riservato.
Meeting security needs at scale
Italgas manages not only gas distribution but also water services and energy efficiency solutions, serving 6.3 million people. Protecting these assets is a priority. “We work with resources that are precious, like energy and water, so the security of these assets is very critical,” she adds.
The majority of sites under Italgas’ management lacked the infrastructure for conventional security installations. The challenge was to secure them quickly and effectively, while basic utilities such as electricity were still being established.
A mobile, autonomous solution
Reconeyez’ wireless, battery-powered systems provided the flexibility required for such a large-scale operation. Designed for rapid deployment, the units do not rely on local internet or electricity, making them suitable for remote sites.
“We haven’t found anything that could easily and seamlessly replace Reconeyez,” says Riservato. “We use Reconeyez as a dynamic solution—we move it from site to site, to secure our assets while we prepare for more traditional cabled security solution. We use multiple different set-up options: security towers powered by Reconeyez system and Reconeyez detectors mounted discreetly in bushes, etc.”
From Sardinia to the mainland
The system was first tested at a gas distribution plant in Sardinia, a remote location that urgently needed protection. “We specifically requested the Reconeyez solution, and our security contractor was able to go to the site with a couple of towers and a few devices. In less than two hours, we were already receiving alarms at our remote monitoring centre,” recalls Riservato.
Each device offers a detection range of up to 35 metres, reducing hardware requirements. With batteries lasting up to 400 days and optional solar power, the units can operate autonomously for extended periods. Multi-network SIM cards ensure stable connectivity, even in areas with patchy coverage.
Cloud oversight and AI precision
For Italgas, cloud integration has been a key benefit. “Reconeyez’s cloud-based nature makes everything more convenient. It is also great that the guys in the control room receive alarms without a problem, and at the same time, we can also check that everything is okay from our mobile phones with our peers,” explains Riservato.
The platform integrates with Italgas’ monitoring software for centralised oversight, while also enabling collaboration between teams in the field. At the core of the system is AI-based object detection. “We work extensively with AI at Italgas, and the Reconeyez AI object detection is excellent. With other kinds of technologies, the rate of false alarms is still drastically high—with Reconeyez, it is almost zero,” Riservato highlights.
Reconeyez reports that its AI reduces false alarms by 95%. The system also provides HD images alongside alerts, allowing incidents to be verified before teams are dispatched.
Cost-effective resilience
Managing thousands of dispersed sites requires not only resilience but also cost efficiency. According to Riservato, Reconeyez provides both. “Reconeyez is the only solution we use for rapidly securing our sites that don’t have the infrastructure for traditional security monitoring. I haven’t found anything that can do what Reconeyez does. We are very quick with setting up this solution, and the price point really suits our budgets. We have used it since 2022 in many different applications across Italy, and so far, we have not had any problems with it.”
For Italgas, Reconeyez has become a cornerstone technology in securing critical assets in remote and high-risk environments, offering speed, flexibility and reliability at scale.