Startup Optics11 offers a solution for improving energy infrastructure

The uniqueness of Optics11’s development

The Dutch startup Optics11 recently closed a funding round, raising €17 million. The company offers a cutting-edge solution to ensure the sustainability of energy infrastructure. The project’s relevance in the context of Europe’s growing need for sustainable and secure energy infrastructure explains the high level of interest in it. Participants in the round included Join Capital, SET Ventures, Value Creation Capital, and others.

Optics11 has developed a product based on fiber optic sensors and special software. This solution detects and localizes threats. It significantly increases the response time of technical services, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents and downtime.

Modernizing energy infrastructure is crucial for Europe, given the realities of the modern world. One important point is the possibility of reducing the region’s dependence on imported raw materials. Additionally, the infrastructure itself is outdated and needs to be replaced. The situation is as follows:

1. A total of 90,000 high-voltage (HV) transformers are in use in the European Union.
2. 40% of them have already exceeded their standard service life.
3. Production schedules are set until 2030. However, expanding the production of new equipment is currently impossible.
4. Demand significantly exceeds supply, creating additional risks for the stability of the power system.
5. Operators are increasingly operating submarine cables and offshore wind farms in violation of safety standards.

Against this backdrop, ensuring preventive monitoring and diagnostics of infrastructure is critically important. Optics11’s solutions are designed to detect failures and potential malfunctions early on. This makes Optics11 an important technology partner in improving the reliability of the energy sector.

The solution features

Startup director Paul Hayden emphasized the uniqueness and importance of this development for the successful operation of Europe’s energy network. Optics11 offers several solutions, including:

1. OptiFender: This is a predictive monitoring system that can quickly detect and accurately locate partial discharge events. These events are usually the first sign of potential faults in medium and high voltage systems.
2. The OptiBarrier and OptiArray monitor threats to underwater infrastructure. These systems use fiber optic sensors to provide regular monitoring and early threat detection. They help prevent sabotage and unauthorized interference with critical underwater infrastructure.

Fiber optic sensors demonstrate high resistance to electromagnetic interference. They ensure accurate operation in challenging conditions where conventional equipment cannot cope.

Advanced software enhances the sensors’ effectiveness by quickly analyzing incoming data. This provides specialists with real-time information about potential malfunctions. The system automatically alerts operators at the first sign of a malfunction. This enables a rapid response and minimizes follow-up maintenance costs.

Optics11 has the necessary expertise and technological potential. These capabilities allow the company to contribute significantly to the modernization and sustainable development of Europe’s energy infrastructure.