Det Norske Veritas (DNV) will display Smart Cable Guard - a proven digital solution for real-time monitoring of distribution cables - at Elecrama 2025. DNV will show how Smart Cable Guard is driving the energy transition and the digitalization of power grids and helping them minimise financial and reputational risks by providing a reliable and resilient network for uninterrupted performance.

Unlike offline solutions which provide a sporadic snapshot of a cable’s condition, Smart Cable Guard offers round-the-clock monitoring for total visibility. It detects cable faults, for example caused by excavation works, in minutes. Moreover, it can identify weak spots in the cable, often many weeks or months before they develop into actual faults.

Smart Cable Guard offers a cost-effective way to keep the lights on. The cutting-edge digital cable monitoring technology gives the user complete visibility on cable conditions – in real time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It rapidly detects faults but also weak spots that could develop into faults – so one can stop outages before they occur. Smart Cable Guard has been shown to reduce distribution cable failures by as much as 70 per cent. Both faults and weak spots are located within 1% of the cable length, allowing you to act faster. 

In 2012, the first Smart Cable Guard systems were deployed in the distribution network of Alliander (a Dutch energy utility company that distributes electricity, gas, and heat) with results that continue to impress. Over time, the Smart Cable Guard concept has been refined and upgraded. The solution was made more cost effective. Meanwhile, machine learning and artificial intelligence expertise improved noise reduction to eliminate false positives. This led to today’s solution – which some users have reported has reduced distribution cable failures by 70 per cent.

But Smart Cable Guard is more than just the hardware and software. Each installation receives expert technical support at all stages: from planning to operation. This ensures that the Smart Cable Guard installation is optimised to the user's specific needs. And that the user receives tailored recommendations on what actions to take after an alert, based on their extensive industry experience. So, grid operators around the world are increasingly turning to Smart Cable Guard to improve reliability in their distribution networks.

DNV?is an independent assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise DNV?advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry standards, and inspires and invents solutions. DNV provides assurance to the entire energy value chain through its advisory,?monitoring, verification, and certification services. As the world's leading resource of independent energy experts?and technical advisors, the assurance provider helps?industries and governments to?navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry. DNV is committed to realising the goals of the Paris Agreement, and supports?customers?to transition faster to a deeply decarbonized energy system.