Wide-area monitoring of the power system is becoming increasingly important as the UK is transitioning to a net-zero economy. To prevent blackouts, high-performance distributed sensors are required to provide sufficient real-time data for rapid control and protection of the power system. Moreover, extensive condition monitoring of often dynamically-rated power lines and cables is required as the grid undergoes unprecedented stresses due to the volatile loading scenarios and new weather extremes. Synaptec's distributed photonic sensing technology is an ideal solution to this challenge as it piggybacks on the grid pre-installed fibre and offers cost-effective coverage of large geographic areas using high-performance passive sensors, not requiring buildings, power supplies, communication infrastructure, or GPS signals. Synaptec's customers have implemented novel control or protection schemes with a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies. However, the technology requires a significant upgrade in terms of the sensor dynamic range and accuracy to be adopted universally by the network operators -- including circuits both outside and within the substation. While protection-grade measurements external to the substations are sufficient to implement hybrid or multi-ended circuit protection schemes, metering-grade or combined metering/protection-grade sensors are necessary to offer a holistic approach for extra- and intra-substation measurements. We estimate a 10-fold increase of the market share for Synaptec's solutions if the extended dynamic range challenge could be solved. Consequently, this project will develop an extend-range sensor based on a ground-breaking new concept of passively auto-ranging the photonic transducer. The concept has been patented and early proof-of-concept investigations indicate its great success; however, the technology requires significant development before it can be turned into a commercial offering. Therefore, the project consortium comprising Synaptec, University of Strathclyde and ITL will design and demonstrate a TRL6-7 distributed sensor system based on the auto-ranging concept. The innovation will involve ultra-low-power electronics to deliver passive auto-ranging functionality that is local to the sensors, together with extended-range current-to-voltage inductive converters, and an algorithm operating within the firmware of the central sensor interrogator to detect remote range changes and provide output scaling. The project will deliver a technology demonstrator that will be proven using Strathclyde's kA-level current injection facilities. The solution will compete on the measurement range and accuracy with nonconventional optical instrument transformers while offering an unprecedented level of multiplexing and geographical coverage, unachievable at this price point by any other technology. The project will significantly benefit and accelerate UK's transition to a sustainable energy economy.

This project will address the problem of poor reliability of electricity supply in developing countries, focussing on a representative test case, Nepal. The approach will involve deploying revolutionary distributed instrumentation and control technology, pioneered by a UK start-up, Synaptec, in order to resolve power grid inefficiencies and offer greater availability of supply to large populations, thus addressing the competition's scope. The project consortium, also comprising of the University of Strathclyde, Instrument Transformers Limited, Maxwell Technologies, National Physical Laboratory, Nepal Electricity Authority, and Kantipur Engineering College will further develop key elements of Synaptec's technology. The adopted approach will improve upon the current state-of-the-art by offering unprecedented visibility of the power grid at low cost, thus enabling targeted and automated system response to achieve efficiency gains in energy transport and connection of intermittent generation. The technology will improve efficiency and availability, impacting NEA's day-to-day business; Synaptec and ITL will develop new products and access new markets; and the RTOs will discover and disseminate new knowledge. Keywords: distributed sensing & control; power grid management; smart grids.

This project will conduct the substantial industrial R&D required to prototype and test a novel distributed photonic sensing technology for the power and energy industries. The unique sensing technology, developed by Synaptec Ltd, can provide wide-area monitoring of both electrical and mechanical parameters (e.g. voltage, current, temperature, vibration) from across the electrical grid from central locations such as transmission substations. By piggy-backing on pre-installed optical fibre on power networks, it will allow network operators to leverage existing infrastructure to improve the robustness of network protection, monitoring and control functions in order to bring on more distributed and renewable generation and reduce the risk and impact of faults or outages on the electrical system. This 36-month project will allow Synaptec to fully develop, validate and prototype a full suite of sensor systems (through both hardware and software engineering) based on this innovative technology platform in partnership with the UK's leading industrial, research and metrological institutions, and to prepare for commercial pilot installations with UK and EU electricity network operators.