Challenge
Griug is a Norwegian grid operator responsible for delivering safe and reliable power to its communities, with a strong focus on preventive maintenance and operational excellence.
For some time, Griug had observed irregular activity in Safegrid’s data from the K35010 Vaset Connection Kiosk. Despite these indications, no concrete faults had been identified. With the kiosk operating 5 circuits and feeding two stations into the facility, reliability was critical. Any undetected failure could result in significant outage costs and expensive equipment damage.
During one of the investigation visits to the kiosk, the field team noticed an unusual noise inside the kiosk. The following day, they returned to investigate further. Using a Partial Discharge (PD) camera, the team confirmed elevated readings, and the abnormal sound had grown louder. Upon closer inspection, the team identified white discoloration at the bottom of the right sleeve of the transition link between the Safegrid installations. This was a clear early warning sign of a developing failure.
Solution
The team decided to switch one transformer to generator operation and take the entire busbar out of service. New transition links were urgently ordered and installed the next day. Thanks to this proactive approach, the system was safely restored to normal operation within 24 hours.
Results
By detecting the fault before it escalated, Griug avoided what could have been a costly outage. The early identification and timely response are estimated to have saved several hundred thousand kroner.
This success story highlights how Safegrid’s intelligent monitoring, combined with PD camera validation, enables preventive maintenance and strengthens grid reliability.
“By detecting the issue before it escalated, we’ve potentially saved several hundred thousand. It’s great to see that Safegrid and the PD camera can enable preventive measures.” – Espen Sørlie, Driftsleder/Fagansvarlig DLE, Griug