Finland tests acoustic monitoring system to protect subsea cables
Elisa, the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Navy have completed field
tests of a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system designed to monitor
and protect submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland. The technology uses
optical fibre to detect vibrations on the seabed and identify potential
threats to critical infrastructure.
This new technology analyses changes in light reflections within the fibre
to detect unusual activity, such as a vessel dragging its anchor. Tests
carried out in early June simulated a range of scenarios, including faults
and physical disturbances affecting subsea infrastructure.
"The protection of undersea infrastructure is a nationally important
task. The recent cable breaks in mind, we have built a solution that provides
an early warning of an approaching threat.” States Jouni Petrow, Elisa's
Director.
Submarine cables form a key part of offshore energy systems, including
the transmission of electricity from offshore wind farms to shore. Improved
monitoring and early warning capabilities are intended to reduce the risk
of damage and support the reliability of offshore power networks.
The project involves multiple stakeholders, including the Finnish Naval
Academy, Fingrid, Gasgrid, the Geological Survey of Finland and the University
of Helsinki.
Following successful trials, the system is being developed into an automated
service to alert authorities and infrastructure owners to emerging risks.
To access more information on subsea
cables for offshore wind and interconnector projects, as well as transmission
intelligence, click
here.