Duquesne Light Company (“DLC”) is launching the $750,000 “Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge: The Future of Underground Inspection.” This exciting challenge is looking for solutions for monitoring the health of Paper-Insulated (PILC), Solid Dielectric (EPR), and systems with a combination of both cable types to enable proactive maintenance of DLC’s underground electrical network and provide an ever-safer environment for customers, employees, and the public. In addition to the prize money, winners will work with DLC on a contract to deploy the technology across an underground electrical grid.
With hundreds of millions of miles of electrical cables worldwide buried beneath our feet, the need to maintain and look after this critical infrastructure is essential to our daily lives.
As the cables age, it is important to monitor these cables to allow for proactive maintenance and provide a safe environment for those who work to ensure we have the electrical power needed for today’s connected society.
The Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge seeks novel solutions to monitor and detect precursors to failure in underground Medium Voltage Power Cables. The challenge focuses specifically on monitoring the health of Paper-Insulated (PILC) and Solid Dielectric (EPR) based cables and applications when both types are used and spliced together.
We welcome entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, students, and anyone eager to contribute to jump into this challenge and to find a solution.
The challenge will have three (3) phases over 24 months. Anyone can participate in Phase 1; participation in Phases 2 and 3 are by invitation only.
Click the Guidelines Tab to learn more about this challenge and help us by joining the Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge: The Future of Underground Inspection.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is committed to more than keeping the lights on; we power the moments in our customers’ lives. As a next-generation energy company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DLC’s 1,700-plus employees are dedicated to providing safe, reliable, resilient and affordable power to more than 600,000 customers across southwestern Pennsylvania, including the City of Pittsburgh.
Awards:-
In Phase 1, solvers will have to submit technical proposals describing their solution to monitoring Medium Voltage Power Cables. Up to five (5) semi-finalists will receive $10,000 prize money and be invited to Phase 2.
In Phase 2, up to five (5) semi-finalists chosen in Phase 1 will develop a prototype version of their solution. Each semi-finalist will receive an additional $50,000 to support solution development. Semi-finalists will have nine (9) months to build their prototypes and submit testing data. Up to two (2) finalists will receive $100,000 and be invited to Phase 3.
In Phase 3, up to two (2) finalists from Phase 2 will be invited to install their solution on a live circuit, and one (1) winner will receive $250,000 and the opportunity for a potential contract to demonstrate their solution across an extensive underground electrical grid.
Deadline:- 16-03-2022
