Proserv Controls formed a strategic alliance on Oct. 7 with power system monitoring leader Synaptec to move both companies forward in several energy markets, including offshore wind and upstream oil and gas.

In addition to the wide-ranging objective of the partnership, the companies plan to develop multiple technologies including a cutting-edge integrated holistic cable monitoring system set to reduce downtime, improve safety and lower operating costs at offshore wind farms. The partners will also evaluate how best to incorporate Synaptec’s unique passive distributed electro-mechanical sensing (DES) technology into Proserv’s cutting-edge subsea control systems in order to monitor the performance of critical infrastructure.

In a company release, Proserv said the agreement represents a key step on the company’s technology roadmap, with the firm continuing to build a disruptive, technology-driven controls business in the offshore wind sector, as it seeks to play a significant part in the energy transition.

“Proserv’s stature as an independent controls technology provider, and the ability for our solutions to coexist with all other equipment manufacturers’ control, monitoring and power systems, were a strong attraction to Synaptec,” Paul Cook, Proserv’s renewables product manager, said in a statement. “For us, Synaptec’s unique non-intrusive passive monitoring capability means we have the scope to integrate this technology, alongside other monitoring techniques, to bring significant added value to our future control systems.”

Synaptec was founded in Glasgow in 2014 and provides distributed sensor networks to improve visibility and control of power systems across the offshore wind, transmission and distribution industries. Its advanced technologies use optical fibers and are completely passive: a global first for the power sector.

Synaptec’s patented optical sensing capabilities, complemented by Proserv’s leading controls technology, allows the retrofit of control systems, enabling faults and failures to be identified pre-emptively, through a non-intrusive approach. According to a Proserv release, the clear value for the end user lies in the saving of installation costs and in providing the capability to mitigate the occurrence of faults.

In a statement commenting on the partnership, Philip Orr, managing director of Synaptec, said: “Cable failures continue to be a significant challenge for the offshore wind sector. Through this new partnership we are bringing to market a solution which will support the growth and progress of the energy transition and positively impact the operations and maintenance costs for offshore wind operators. It’s an important milestone and demonstrates both Synaptec’s and Proserv’s commitment to a stable energy future at a time when the energy sector is undergoing the biggest transformation we’ll see in our lifetimes.”

Additionally, the two firms will work to integrate their mutual technologies to generate condition monitoring solutions which will take preventative failure warnings to another level of sophistication, enabling timely intervention by oil and gas operators, and thus preventing outages and costly lost production.

Davis Larssen, CEO of Proserv Controls, added: “This alliance represents an exciting opportunity for both parties. Our goal is to combine our respective capabilities to deliver innovative, market-leading products that will ultimately enhance our clients’ production efficiencies and improve their profitability.”

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