Proserv has acquired a minority stake in Synaptec, a power system monitoring business, to optimise its disruptive condition-monitoring technologies for the energy sector.
This builds on a collaboration that has seen Proserv, Synaptic, BPP Cable Solutions and Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) develop a pioneering holistic cable monitoring system (ECG) for the offshore wind segment.
ECG utilises Synaptec’s passive electrical and mechanical instrumentation systems, which integrates distributed electromechanical sensors as a key element. This can provide real-time monitoring and predictive insights.
Synaptec has also developed a technology that can provide details on performance as well as variables such as current flow and temperature. This can be provided from Synaptec’s measurement node, which sits within existing fibre infrastructure.
“We have formed a close working relationship with the Synaptec team over the past two years as we have combined our controls and integration expertise, and reputation, with its own unique power system monitoring capabilities, leading to the generation of disruptive new solutions to support the offshore wind space,” said Paul Cook, vice-president of renewables at Proserv.
“We look forward to further collaboration as we seek to identify more opportunities where we can deploy our know-how right across the energy sector.”
The technology can support the monitoring of offshore wind farms, a sector that has seen significant growth in recent years. This has increased with the UK Government establishing an ambition to have 50GW of offshore wind capacity in operation by 2030.
“Synaptec is delighted that Proserv has become one of our investors, joining our existing shareholders who also supported this funding round,” said Dave Pratt, chairman of Synaptec.
“As a well-established, experienced provider of control and instrumentation systems, Proserv brings fundamental technical and commercial expertise which will be vital to ‘business as usual’ implementation of Synaptec’s sensor technology.
“Our integrated systems are already being deployed on the world’s largest offshore wind farm and the world’s first floating wind farm. Proserv’s investment and support will help Synaptec scale up to meet increasing market demand.”
