Features of the Research Activity

This activity is part of the RdS 2.6 project, “Resilience and Security of the Energy System,” within the “2025–2027 Three-Year Implementation Plan.” The goal is to enhance the security and resilience of the system in response to increased severity of environmental threats caused by climate change and the consequent higher stress these impose on the electrical grid.

Among these stresses are mechanical overloads caused by the formation of snow/ice sleeves on phase conductors and ground wires, as well as thermal overloads due to adverse environmental conditions such as high temperatures and lack of wind, often coupled with increased electrical loads from greater cooling needs.

The adoption of overhead line conductors equipped with embedded optical fibers, combined with an appropriate monitoring system, would allow real-time detection of the thermal, mechanical, and vibrational stresses (the latter caused by wind phenomena or sleeve detachment) experienced by the conductor. The optical system would also enable distributed monitoring of these stresses along the entire length of the line section (spanning several kilometers).

RSE has a laboratory at its Brugherio site capable of conducting mechanical, thermal, and electrical tests on overhead line conductors and their fittings. This laboratory includes indoor experimental spans that can simulate mechanical, thermal, and vibrational stresses and monitor them using sensors for temperature, displacement, strain, vibration, etc.

In this context, RSE aims to collaborate with manufacturers of electrical conductors and ground wires to characterize the performance of conductors equipped with optical fibers and the associated monitoring system for detecting the stresses mentioned above.

Responsibilities of the Partner

The selected partner will provide RSE, free of charge and for agreed-upon periods, conductor segments equipped with optical fibers and the associated monitoring system. The partner will sign a non-binding collaboration agreement, the terms of which will be agreed upon later.

Responsibilities of RSE

RSE will analyze the performance of the optical monitoring system by conducting mechanical, thermal, and vibrational tests on conductor segments equipped with optical fibers.
RSE will share the results of the various tests conducted with the partner.

Study Outcomes

The study will provide a quantitative assessment of the performance of the optical monitoring system. It will offer insights into the applicability of conductors equipped with optical fibers for detecting mechanical, thermal, and vibrational stresses in operation.

The results will be publicly available and may be disseminated through conferences, scientific journals, and other communication channels. The partner may use the results for promotional, marketing, and public outreach purposes, provided that RSE’s existing knowledge or knowledge developed during the collaboration is not used exclusively or protected as intellectual property by the partner. Any knowledge independently developed by the partner will remain free from intellectual property restrictions.

Expression of Interest

Interested parties are invited to express their interest in writing by emailing piattaforme.cer@rse-web.it by no later than 30 November 2024, including contact details (phone number and email of a designated representative) and a brief description of the company/organization.

Proposal Evaluation

Proposals will be evaluated with transparency and impartiality by a designated commission appointed after receiving all applications. The commission will conduct a comparative evaluation based on the criteria outlined in the attached document. A maximum of three proposals will be accepted for experimentation. In case of tied scores, proposals will be considered based on the chronological order of submission.

Collaboration Agreement Signing

RSE reserves the right not to proceed with the procedure if no application is deemed suitable for the notice’s purpose. Additionally, RSE may suspend or terminate the process, reopen the terms, or reissue the procedure with appropriate justification.

Evaluation Table