OptaSense Uses Horizon 2020 Funding for Subsea Power Cable Monitoring in UK Waters

OptaSense, part of the QinetiQ Group plc, was part of a consortium to receive funding from Horizon 2020, Europe’s largest research and innovation programme, for developing an innovative solution using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology for cable monitoring and surveying for offshore wind farms in real time. DAS converts a standard optical fibre into an array of acoustic sensors, taking advantage of the fibre-optic cables for communication and monitoring already integrated into the subsea power cables.

 The Horizon 2020 funding allowed OptaSense to work with a local partner to carry out large-scale customer trials that demonstrate the technical advantages that fibre-optic-based DAS offers over the current deployed technology for cable monitoring and prove the technical merit of the innovative solution for offshore wind farm power cable monitoring.

“We were honoured to be selected for a Horizon 2020 project funding award,” said Jeff Williamson, Managing Director of OptaSense Infrastructure and Security Monitoring, “The funding allowed us to validate the technology that can significantly reduce downtime and improve the efficiency of the offshore renewables industry.”

 As a result of the successful trials, OptaSense has developed Power Cable Monitoring Solutions for windfarm operators. For more information about OptaSense power cable monitoring, click here.