Sensor networks and the cable of the future

Developments such as these are part of Megger’s drive to embrace the future of cable asset performance management – hence the recent investment in Glasgow’s Synaptec. Dodds says: “We believe adding distributed electrical sensing to our solution is part of a holistic view of the cable of the future. When you have cables running a lot of money through them, cable faults cannot be tolerated. Wind farms are a prime example.”

Because the offshore wind industry is in its infancy, engineers are learning all the time. “The UK is ahead of anywhere in the world and is a great place to learn; to see what can be done and what can’t be done,” says Dodds. “We are going to see a lot more issues around cables because we’re in the vanguard. And what we learn in the UK will impact everywhere else.”

Predictive maintenance is likely to grow in importance because of constrictions in the supply chain for offshore cable. “The availability of capacity in cable factories is a problem, with long lead times,” Dodds explains. “There is also an issue with accessing cable-laying ships.

“All of that requires a lot of planning. And this is big project work, worth millions.” Utilities will also want to avoid outright cable failure because of the impact it has on insurance premiums, says Dodds. “Insurers will pay out once for cable failure, but if you have had a cable that has had multiple issues, you are not going to get insurance for it.”

Like other technical industries, there are also constraints on the supply of skilled people, both in the UK and for Megger in Germany. Mueller-Bode points out that some millennial and Gen Z engineers may be more attracted to working in the software industry. “Youngsters want to work on apps. It’s a big problem.”

In Britain, Megger is working with partners to deliver apprenticeships and university bursaries to study engineering. “We are also looking at introducing part-time PhDs at our UK sites,” explains Dodds. “The aim is to increase the pool of engineers, even if some will not necessarily come and work for us at the end.

When it comes to skills, “utilities have the same problem”, Mueller-Bode says. “But if you want to take part in the most interesting power distribution projects, this is the place to be. I’m an engineer and I am fascinated by big projects, and I got to take part in the commissioning and testing of Megger’s fault location container for the Viking Link, which was thrilling.

“And as the energy transition progresses, what we do at Megger is only going to grow in importance.”

Want more information about condition monitoring with Megger? Contact Daniel Müeller-Bode