Smart Cable Guard named finalist in Duquesne’s Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge

DNV’s Smart Cable Guard has been named one of the finalists in Duquesne's Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge. This competition seeks to identify innovative solutions for underground cable monitoring, including Paper-Insulated (PILC), Solid Dielectric (EPR), and systems with a combination of both cable types. Monitoring the health of underground cables is critical for ensuring the reliability and safety of the electrical grid.

The Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge is a crowdsourcing competition initiated by Duquesne Light Company (DLC), one of the largest utility companies in Pennsylvania, and facilitated by crowdsourcing platform HeroX.

As a semi-finalist, the Smart Cable Guard team had 9 months to build and test their prototype. Samples of the EPR and PILC cable used by DLC were sent to semi-finalists for their own testing. As part of the challenge a test setup was established at the DNV lab where a cable circuit combining the EPR and PILC cables were joined with a splice to demonstrate the full capabilities of Smart Cable Guard.

From prototype to live field testing

Smart Cable Guard's entry impressed the judges with its cutting-edge technology that utilizes sensors and data analytics to detect and locate failures in underground power cables. The online cable monitoring solution provides real-time information on the condition of the cable network and accurately pinpoints the location of failures. This information is essential for utilities to make informed decisions about maintenance and repairs, which ultimately helps prevent power outages and improve grid reliability and resiliency.

As one of the finalists, the Smart Cable Guard team wins USD 100,000 and will participate in Phase 3: Live Field Testing-Pilot Deployment. The finalists will be invited to install their solution to monitor a live circuit in the DLC grid or other appropriate location for a minimum of 90 days.

"We are thrilled to be named a finalist in the Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge," said Richard Denissen, Director of DNV’s Smart Cable Guard. "Our technology revolutionizes the way utilities monitor their underground cable networks. We are excited about the opportunity to install our solution to monitor a live circuit in the Duquesne’s grid."

The Award Announcement is scheduled for December 2023. The winner will receive USD 250,000 and will work with DLC on a contract to deploy the technology across an underground electrical grid.