OptiFender: Optics11 Redefines Asset Health with Ultra-Early, High-Precision PD Monitoring for Future-Proof Grids.
Optics11 introduces OptiFender, setting a new standard in predictive maintenance for critical electrical infrastructure.
- OptiFender provides real-time, precise 3D localization of partial discharges in medium, high, and extra-high-voltage assets.
- Advanced fiber-optic sensing and Machine Learning driven analytics enable “install-and-forget” monitoring, reducing unplanned outages and extending asset life.
- Launch addresses the urgent need for smarter, more efficient utility operations and enhanced grid resilience.
PRESS RELEASE
AMSTERDAM, JUNE 3, 2025 | Optics11, a leader in advanced fiber optic sensing solutions, today announced the launch of OptiFender, its groundbreaking partial discharge (PD) monitoring and localization system. Designed for medium, high, and extra-high-voltage electrical assets such as transformers, cable accessories, and GIS, OptiFender offers utilities and industrial operators an unprecedented ability to predict and prevent failures, enhancing grid reliability and extending the lifespan of critical infrastructure.
“The challenge of maintaining aging electrical infrastructure while ensuring uninterrupted service is immense,” said Paul Heiden, CEO of Optics11. “OptiFender represents a paradigm shift in asset management. Its smart, passive, and precise monitoring capabilities empower operators to move from reactive repairs to proactive, predictive maintenance, ultimately making our energy grids more resilient and efficient.”
The Growing Challenge for Electrical Grids
Modern societies depend heavily on a stable electricity supply, yet grids worldwide face significant pressures. Aging assets, the integration of intermittent renewables, and the increasing complexity of energy networks contribute to the risk of unplanned outages. Partial discharges are a primary early indicator of insulation deterioration in critical equipment. Detecting these PDs early and accurately is crucial to preventing catastrophic failures, which can lead to costly downtime, extensive repairs, and safety hazards. Traditional periodic testing can miss developing issues, highlighting the need for continuous, intelligent monitoring.
OptiFender: Precision and Automation in PD Monitoring
OptiFender addresses these challenges head-on with its innovative approach. The system utilizes passive, EMI-immune fiber-optic sensors that are easily installed (retrofit or embedded) on or near electrical assets. These sensors “listen” for the acoustic signals generated by partial discharges. An interrogation unit sends light signals through the fibers, and any PD activity subtly changes the reflected light. The OptiFender platform, powered by advanced algorithms and AI, analyzes these changes in real-time to detect, classify, and precisely locate the PD source – often to within 15 centimeters – frequently without requiring asset shutdowns.
Key benefits of OptiFender include:
- Reduced Unplanned Outages: By detecting PD early, OptiFender helps prevent catastrophic failures.
- Extended Asset Life: Enables predictive maintenance, deferring costly replacements.
- Lower Maintenance Costs: Pinpoints faults remotely and in real-time, reducing fault-to-repair cycles by up to 90%.
- Overcomes Expertise Gaps: Automated PD classification and alerts mean low/no PD expertise is needed for initial interpretation and operation.
- Install-&-Forget Hardware: Passive sensors require zero maintenance or recalibration, ensuring reliability in harsh environments.
“With OptiFender, we are putting actionable insights directly into the hands of asset managers,” added Coco Geluk, Managing Director for Energy at Optics11. “The system’s ability to provide always-on, automated monitoring without generating false alarms, due to its EMI-immune fiber optic sensors, means maintenance teams can act decisively the moment a genuine fault appears. This not only cuts site visits but also transforms how utilities approach asset health.”
Availability
OptiFender is scheduled for General Availability on July 1st, 2025. The system will be available directly via Optics11 and through selected service partners and distributors across Europe. We are pleased to announce our initial launch partners in Europe include Royal SMIT TRANSFORMER SERVICE, Volta, and Rosh Engineering, who will be instrumental in bringing OptiFender’s benefits to a wide range of customers.
A New Era of Predictive Maintenance
The launch of OptiFender comes at a critical time for the energy sector. By providing a sophisticated yet easy-to-use solution for PD monitoring, Optics11 is enabling a smarter, more resilient, and sustainable energy future. OptiFender empowers utilities to proactively manage their assets, ensuring reliability and optimizing operational expenditure.
END OF RELEASE
About Optics11
Optics11 is a Dutch deep-tech scale-up and a world leader in fiber optic sensing technology. The company develops and manufactures a range of innovative monitoring solutions that leverage the unique advantages of fiber optics to provide ultra-sensitive and precise measurements for challenging applications in energy, infrastructure, maritime, and industrial markets. Optics11 is committed to helping clients enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability through advanced sensing intelligence.
For further information, please contact:Alyona Bambulyak
Marketing Manager
+31 6 1873 2591
Email: alyona.bambulyak@optics11.com
Website: www.optics11.com
