How innovation will modernize Africa’s electrical grid
Digital and data innovation
31 October 2024
10 min
Innovation will modernize africa’s electrical grid

To replace fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil, etc.) in the global energy mix, decarbonized electricity is the only solution. Alongside nuclear power, which is available in certain countries, new capacities in renewable energies (solar, wind, hydropower, etc.) must be deployed rapidly and extensively.

In Africa, where electrification remains limited, the challenge is even more formidable. Despite its immense renewable energy potential, the continent currently contributes minimally to the global electricity mix. In 2019, only 2% of new capacity came from Africa, even though its energy demand is expected to double by 2040.

To address this, the local production of essential equipment and innovation are undoubtedly key to accelerating Africa’s energy transition and maximizing its potential. These advances will enable the development and modernization of electrical networks, making them stronger and more efficient.

Jérôme Fournier, VP Innovation, Nexans

Modernizing the electrical grid is essential to the energy transition. Electricity accounts for 25% of global energy, and it took 100 years to build the grid that achieved this level. We must accomplish the same in 20 years, as electricity will account for 50% of energy by 2050. This poses two main challenges: the first is expanding and modernizing the grid by building new cables, and the second is fostering innovation.

Jérôme Fournier

Corporate Vice-President, Innovation, Services and Growth, Nexans

Industrial innovation: Essential for developing and modernizing Africa’s grid

Africa faces a significant industrial challenge.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), electricity is expected to reach 50% of final global energy consumption by 2050. Renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydropower) is anticipated to account for 80% of new capacity by 2040.

Like other regions, Africa must innovate to achieve its energy transition, yet it must first expand its local industry. Doing so will enable the establishment of new ecosystems vital for this transition (creation of specialized companies, partnerships, skill-building, development of new trades, etc.). The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes, for example, that although Africa has the world’s largest solar resources, it currently holds just 1% of installed solar capacity.

For more on Africa’s needs and prospects

Africa faces a significant industrial challenge

Key challenges

Building high-capacity power networks with superconducting cables

To electrify Africa and accelerate renewable energy production, networks must increase their power capacity, requiring the development of innovative cables. Superconducting cables, for example, can transport large amounts of energy to urban areas while minimizing costs and interference with other networks (due to cable shielding). Their high capacities and efficiency represent a major technological leap compared to traditional copper and aluminum cables. Medium-voltage cables are also essential to Africa’s transition, supplying electricity to industrial plants, hospitals, schools, and shopping centers.

Enhancing network reliability

Africa’s existing networks, like those worldwide, are often decades old. This can create challenges in terms of maintenance, resilience to climate events, and fire risk. Older infrastructure can also complicate the integration of new renewable capacities. To extend their lifespan and improve reliability, networks must be modernized or even transformed, requiring collaboration with energy producers and network operators who play a vital role in maintaining infrastructure.

Respecting the environment and reducing carbon impact

Projects must adopt environmental standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the ecological impact of the energy transition. This necessitates collaboration with qualified companies (in circular economy practices, eco-design, etc.) and the establishment of stringent project criteria, including environmental standards in calls for tenders.

In Morocco, a third Nexans plant will be inaugurated by 2026 to support innovation.

Achieving these goals demands innovative, market-adapted solutions. To this end, Africa must develop its industrial base and R&D, particularly in electric cables, photovoltaic panels, inverters, smart meters, LED lighting, etc. These elements are essential for creating local supply chains, reducing costs, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions linked to imports.

To address this, Nexans has signed agreements with Moroccan government entities, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency. These agreements aim to build a medium-voltage cable factory for Morocco and the broader African market. This new facility, joining those in Casablanca and Mohammedia, will support large-scale projects with specific requirements and will be operational by 2026.

Did you know?

Nexans prioritizes low-carbon manufacturing processes. In 2023, 80% of production waste was recycled, and 33,600 tons of copper waste were reused in manufacturing.

Infrastructure monitoring can save up to 20% of electricity

Digitalization in Africa to optimize networks

Infrastructure monitoring can save up to 20% of electricity.

To strengthen and extend the lifespan of electrical networks, Africa must also digitize numerous processes. Tools such as Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) are essential. Using AI, geolocation, big data, and IoT sensors, CMMS enables predictive maintenance, performance indicators, and technical team planning, helping optimize maintenance for solar plants and wind farms.

Additionally, sensors allow faster and more precise fault detection in power stations. AI can even estimate energy production based on weather forecasts. Digitalization translates into more robust, flexible infrastructure, crucial for managing electricity supply and demand (during peak usage, etc.).

Monitoring, for example, allows for accurate consumption tracking and detection of overconsumption issues. Morocco, a pioneer in this area, has improved its network efficiency and reliability through transformer and cable monitoring, which has helped cities in Africa save up to 20% of their electricity.

Nexans App

Recently launched in select African countries, the Nexans App helps secure electrical installations and combat counterfeiting. By scanning a QR code, electricians can verify Nexans products and quickly access technical information.

Reducing time-to-market for innovations and supporting training: Essential for timely goals

It is essential to structure smart partnerships between the private and public sectors to not only mobilize significant financial resources but also share risks, provide a secure contractual framework, and promote the transfer of knowledge and technology.

Mohamed Benchaâboun

Director General of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, Climate Day 2024

Reducing the time to market for innovations is crucial to meeting electrification objectives on time. Today, it can take up to ten years to test a solution and bring it to market, which is far too long. Cutting down on this timeline is essential.

Joint programs with industry partners, startups, and universities are vital for this, fostering R&D and synergy for tailored solutions and training programs.

Nexans has oriented its innovation policy toward grid resilience, sustainable electrification, and advanced grid digitalization. To speed up time-to-market, Nexans has established a Design Lab in Casablanca, Morocco, in collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Casablanca schools. Specializing in monitoring, digitalization, and renewable energy, the lab analyzes user needs to deliver tailored solutions quickly.

This strategy allowed Nexans Morocco to launch a new offering for smart and microgrids, assisting partners from study to production, while ensuring team training and equipment maintenance.

At the 4th Climate Day held last September in Rabat, Morocco, over 450 participants (private and public companies, energy sector players, international organizations, etc.) gathered to discuss environmental issues and climate action. Nexans met with African startups, including DEEPLEAF, a digital agriculture company using AI to detect crop anomalies.

Training and education are crucial for fostering best practices

Training and education: Essential pillars of the transition

Industrial expansion and R&D alone are not enough for Africa’s energy transition. Training and education are also crucial for fostering best practices and developing local skills and jobs.

Nexans has forged strategic partnerships in Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. Morocco stands out, offering several training centers for electricians and installers through Nexans Morocco (in collaboration with UM6P, École Centrale de Casablanca, IECD, and the Settat Innovation City).

Concrete initiatives have emerged across the continent, including the electrification of six hospitals in Beni, DRC, the installation of solar systems in six high schools, and the creation of a photovoltaic maintenance MOOC in Madagascar, supported by the Nexans Foundation.

Africa’s sustainable electrification and energy transition face major challenges:

  • R&D
  • Grid development, security, and modernization
  • Eco-friendly processes
  • Reliable, sustainable infrastructure

The solutions:

  • Digitalization: key to improving energy efficiency
  • Innovation: must be a local, collaborative effort
  • Professional training and public awareness: essential for achieving goals on time
Powering up customer experiences: the digital revolution in electrification
Digital and data innovation
21 October 2024
8 min
Digital innovations are transforming customer journeys

Across industries, the digital revolution is transforming customer service and experience in unprecedented ways. The shift is no longer about merely adopting new technologies but about rethinking how companies engage with their customers. In a world where immediacy, personalization, and transparency have become the norm, businesses must continuously innovate to meet rising expectations. Whether it’s retail, healthcare, finance, or energy, customers today expect seamless, tailored interactions that simplify decision-making and empower them to make smarter, more informed choices.

Digital solutions are at the heart of this transformation, offering new ways to personalize services, deliver real-time support, and build long-lasting trust. The question is no longer, “What can we provide?” but, “How can we elevate the entire customer experience?” From AI-powered chatbots to data-driven insights and omnichannel experiences, the future of customer service is digital—and it’s already here.

Digital solutions are reshaping customer interactions, making personalization, real-time support, and transparency the new standard in electrification too.

The Electrification Customer of the Future Is Already Here

Today’s electrification customers demand immediacy, personalization, and transparency. Companies are responding with digital channels that offer real-time communication and tailored support. Tools like live chats, interactive demos, and data-driven insights help businesses anticipate customer needs and provide customized solutions.

Digital technologies are now essential for building strong relationships. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, companies can offer relevant solutions, increase engagement, and foster trust—turning routine interactions into meaningful, personalized experiences that drive loyalty.

5 Ways Digital Innovations Are Transforming Customer Journeys

The impact of digital technologies on the B2B electrification space cannot be overstated. These innovations are not just enhancing the customer journey—they are transforming it entirely. Let’s break down some of the most impactful changes:

  1. Enhanced Content: Today’s customers are hungry for information, but they don’t want to be overwhelmed with technical jargon. Digital innovations like explainer videos, case studies, and webinars are helping companies present complex ideas in easily digestible formats. These tools provide valuable insights while simplifying decision-making, allowing customers to feel confident in their choices.
  2. Omnichannel Experience: Gone are the days when customer interactions were confined to one or two platforms. Now, customers expect a seamless journey across multiple touchpoints—whether it’s through websites, mobile apps, social media, or even in-person interactions. The challenge for companies is to ensure that these touchpoints are not just consistent but interconnected, allowing customers to transition smoothly from one platform to the next without losing context.
  3. Data Analytics and Personalization: Data is at the heart of digital transformation. Customer data allows businesses to craft personalized experiences tailored to individual needs. In the electrification industry, this could mean recommending specific sustainable solutions based on a company’s past energy usage patterns or offering tailored reports that highlight opportunities for improving efficiency. By using data insights to deliver relevant, personalized content, companies can strengthen their relationships with customers and improve engagement.
  4. Real-Time Interactivity: Real-time support is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Live chats, interactive demos, and virtual consultations are becoming essential tools in the customer service arsenal. These real-time solutions not only build trust but also speed up the decision-making process. In the electrification industry, where the stakes are high, this ability to offer immediate support and guidance is invaluable.
  5. Transparency Through Blockchain: Digital technologies like blockchain are also playing a critical role in enhancing trust. Customers want to know that the products they are buying are authentic and sustainable. Blockchain can offer a transparent, traceable record of a product’s lifecycle—from raw material extraction to final delivery. This level of transparency is particularly valuable in industries like electrification, where sustainability and regulatory compliance are top priorities.
5 ways digital innovations are transforming customer journeys

Overcoming Electrification Challenges with Digital Solutions

Digital tools in electrification go beyond enhancing customer experience; they tackle key industry challenges like resource scarcity, sustainability mandates, and operational efficiency.

Here’s how:

customer-experiences-portrait

Nexans: Pioneering Digital Solutions in Electrification

Nexans continues to lead the way in digital innovation. The company just launched its CableLoop service – a turnkey solution that collects cable installation off-cuts, transports them to recycling centers, and transforms the waste into recycled raw materials.

Additionally, Nexans’ Ultracker solution ensures supply chain continuity by leveraging IoT, AI, and cloud-based services. Ultracker includes solutions like automatic supply management, real-time cable stock monitoring, precise delivery tracking, and the location of cable drums via GPS. For example, the Track’n Trace platform is a real-time global asset tracking and incident management system. It provides precise information and estimated time of arrival for deliveries.

Furthermore, the Nexans App offer customers tailored insights and essential tools, reflecting the company’s commitment to improving both operational efficiency and customer experience in a fast-changing energy landscape.

By integrating these innovative solutions, Nexans addresses key challenges such as sustainability, supply chain efficiency, and customer engagement, ensuring the electrification industry meets the demands of a more connected future.

Revolutionizing Electrification Through Digital Innovation

The electrification industry is at a pivotal moment. As digital technologies continue to evolve, they offer immense potential for transforming how businesses interact with their customers, how they manage resources, and how they address the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions.

From personalized customer journeys to blockchain-powered transparency, digital tools are reshaping every aspect of the electrification landscape. As we look ahead, the question isn’t whether digital technologies will continue to play a role—they already are.

The real question is how businesses can harness these innovations to stay ahead of the curve, meet evolving customer expectations, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Sébastien Weisse

Author

With over 20 years of experience in product marketing, digital transformation, and business development, Sébastien Weisse is spearheading innovation strategies across Nexans. As the current Innovation Director at Nexans, he focuses on driving digital and data advancements. Previously, he led global digital initiatives at Hager. A graduate of CentraleSupélec with a Master’s in Electric Energy and Information Sciences, he is passionate about enhancing customer experiences, fostering sustainable growth, and leading international teams to create long-term value.

Blockchain, transparency and trust: Securing the future of electrification
Digital and data innovation
27 September 2024
8 min
Blockchain

Blockchain technology has revolutionized sectors ranging from finance to healthcare, thanks to its secure, decentralized ledger system that ensures data integrity and transparency.

But beyond these more well-known applications, blockchain is emerging as a powerful tool in industries that require robust traceability and certification, particularly electrification. As electrification systems grow more complex, with vast networks of power grids, renewable energy sources, and increasingly digitized infrastructure, the need for accurate, real-time data and secure tracking systems becomes paramount.

Let’s explore how blockchain is making waves across different sectors and dive into how it’s revolutionizing the electrification industry, particularly in the realm of anti-counterfeiting systems.

Blockchain’s broad impact: A new era of certification

Blockchain’s unique structure allows it to certify and trace products with unparalleled accuracy, making it a game-changer across multiple sectors:

  • Pharmaceuticals: Combating counterfeit drugs, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations like the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).
  • Food safety: Enhancing safety through transparent data sharing, rapid identification of contamination sources, protecting consumers and brands.
  • Luxury goods: Protecting against counterfeiting, preserving brand value, providing consumers with confidence in the authenticity of high-end items.
  • Aerospace: Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, reducing the risk of accidents and equipment failures.
  • Energy: Promoting sustainable practices by tracking renewable energy certification, supporting initiatives to reduce carbon footprints.
  • Agriculture: Verifying product standards and traceability, improving transparency and accountability in the supply chain.
  • Manufacturing and electronics: Ensuring ethical sourcing, promoting responsible practices, avoiding conflict-ridden regions.

Blockchain is deeply transforming industries by providing enhanced trust, transparency, and safety.

Here are 3 reasons why it is revolutionizing the electrification industry concurrently.

Blockchain in electrification

How Nexans will leverage blockchain: A 5-year projection

Nexans is expecting to develop an anti-counterfeiting system and enhance safety and trust across the supply chain thanks to blockchain in the next few years.

Here’s how:

  • Registering and encrypting certificates at each stage of a cable’s life cycle—from production to installation: These certificates would be recorded directly on the production chain, ensuring that every key event—whether a sale, change of ownership, or installation—is tracked on a secure, tamper-proof ledger.
  • Preventing counterfeit products from entering the supply chain: They can lead to dangerous situations, such as electrical fires or system failures, due to substandard materials and manufacturing. Blockchain solution would help mitigate these risks, protecting both infrastructure and human lives.
  • Collaborating with industry partners to drive blockchain innovation further: By partnering with other leaders in electrification and blockchain development, Nexans will contribute to the advancement of safer, more transparent supply chains. As this technology evolves, the company will continue to future-proof its operations, ensuring that blockchain becomes a central part of its strategy for years to come.

 

Blockchain: A must-have for the electrification industry

Blockchain’s role in certification and traceability extends far beyond its origins in cryptocurrency. Its ability to provide secure, transparent records is revolutionizing industries from pharmaceuticals to agriculture—and electrification is no exception. As Nexans’ anti-counterfeiting system shows, blockchain is enhancing product safety, quality, and transparency across the electrification sector, setting new standards for trust and accountability.

As we look ahead, the electrification industry’s adoption of blockchain will likely expand, ensuring that products and processes remain secure, reliable, and sustainable in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Rémi Lancry

Author

Rémi Lancry, Head of Digital Product & Services at Nexans, is a seasoned digital product and services expert with a strong background in both corporate and startup environments. Combining a strong technical background in software development with a deep understanding of business needs, he has successfully led multiple digital transformation initiatives. His expertise in data analytics, digital marketing, and emerging technologies enables him to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions that enhance customer experience and drive business growth.

How AI is transforming the electrification industry: From design to safety
Digital and data innovation
13 September 2024
10 min
How AI is transforming the electrification industry

The electrification industry is at the forefront of what many are calling the next industrial revolution, driven by two pivotal shifts: the global energy transition and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI). As the world moves toward sustainable energy, the complexity of electrification projects grows exponentially.

This is where AI comes in, not just as a tool but as a transformative force. By enhancing innovation, optimizing production, improving safety, and simplifying communication, AI is playing a critical role in powering this new era of electrification.

But what does this mean in practice? Let’s explore how AI is reshaping the electrification industry or is expected to be a game-changer.

1. AI-driven innovation: Powering product design

Here are two ways AI is a game-changer in this field.

AI in R&D

Generative AI is transforming how manufacturers design electrification products, rapidly analyzing millions of variables to identify optimal solutions that would take humans years to discover.

For example, companies are using AI to design cables with enhanced fire resistance, flexibility, and recyclability, all of which are essential for the energy transition.

By 2028, the demand for product innovation is expected to drive 50% of major manufacturers to leverage generative AI to analyze engineering archives and uncover new opportunities for existing innovations.

Revolutionizing product development

In another industry, Decathlon uses generative AI in combination with CAD software to introduce eco-design into their bicycle production process.

In the electrification sector, AI could also accelerate the development of sustainable, cost-effective products.

By driving AI-powered innovation, companies can create products that not only meet today’s demands but are also prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

Imagine a future where AI drives boundless creativity and innovation. In reality, it’s already happening.
And for the cable industry, this is nothing short of revolutionary.

Patrick Fernandez
Patrick Fernandez

Head of Data, Nexans

2. AI in predictive maintenance: Ensuring reliability and efficiency

AI is also expecting to play a crucial role in maintaining the infrastructure that supports electrification. The industry depends on vast networks of complex systems—like smart grids, wind turbines, and solar farms—where any malfunction could disrupt energy supply.

Here’s how:

Predictive maintenance in action

By analyzing real-time data from sensors embedded in equipment, AI can predict when machines are likely to fail, reducing downtime and avoiding costly breakdowns.

Optimizing smart grids

Beyond individual machines, AI optimizes energy grids by managing power flow and detecting faults before they disrupt service. AI can forecast grid demand based on weather patterns, cable conditions, and energy consumption, ensuring efficient power distribution.

For example, the American manufacturing industry generates a staggering 1,812 petabytes of data annually, much of which is essential for running predictive maintenance on critical infrastructure.

Imagine a power grid that predicts an issue with a cable or turbine days in advance. With AI, this kind of predictive power is becoming a reality, ensuring more reliable energy systems.

3. AI for safety: Protecting people in their work environments

In electrification plants and factories, high-voltage cables, heavy machinery, and complex workflows can make the environment hazardous if rigorous safety protocols aren’t followed. AI is helping protect workers by identifying risks before they lead to accidents.

Here’s AI’s role in worker safety:

  • Incident reporting and analysis: AI analyzes past incidents to detect patterns, allowing companies to identify potential hazards before they cause harm.
  • Multilingual capabilities: For global companies, AI can translate safety reports across multiple languages, ensuring consistency in safety practices.
  • AI-driven safety simulations: AI can simulate dangerous scenarios—such as electrical fires or equipment malfunctions—to test the resilience of safety protocols in real time.

Factories that use AI to enhance safety protocols have seen 15-20% fewer accidents, as AI systems detect risks that might go unnoticed by human operators. By predicting and mitigating risks, AI plays a vital role in keeping employees safe in hazardous environments.

ILL_DIGITAL_TRANSMISSION_AI-transforming-the-electrification-industryV3

4. AI for infrastructure safety: Preventing disruptions and damage

The electrification industry relies on a vast network of physical assets—such as power grids and underground cables—that are susceptible to wear, natural disasters, and sabotage. AI helps protect these infrastructures by monitoring their integrity in real time.

What is AI’s role in infrastructure monitoring?

  • Continuous monitoring: AI analyzes sensor data from electrical grids, underground cables, and substations to detect anomalies that may signal damage or wear.
  • Natural disaster resilience: AI models can simulate the impact of extreme weather events on infrastructure and suggest measures to prevent widespread damage.
  • Cybersecurity enhancements: As grids become smarter, they also become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. AI strengthens infrastructure security by detecting unusual network activity and responding to threats in real time.

For instance, AI systems now monitor millions of kilometers of diverse cables in global power grids, identifying potential points of failure before they cause blackouts.

With AI, electrification companies can maintain safer, more resilient infrastructure, protecting both assets and the communities they serve.

5. AI in marketing and communication: Simplifying complex messages

To effectively sway decisions towards our electrification solutions, crafting compelling content that resonates with the audience’s expectations and level of understanding is imperative.

AI is revolutionizing how companies communicate complex ideas in several ways:

Personalized marketing with AI

AI enables companies to craft messages that resonate with diverse global audiences. It tailors marketing strategies to local regulations, cultural nuances, and even customer preferences.

  • Localized content creation: Generative AI produces marketing content adapted for different markets, ensuring compliance with local laws and cultural preferences.
  • Real-time adaptation: AI updates marketing messages in real time, ensuring they remain relevant as market conditions change.

Engaging global audiences

Imagine launching a global electrification campaign where AI ensures that the messaging resonates as well in Japan as it does in Spain, while staying true to the company’s values. Nexans, for example, uses AI to create personalized content that speaks directly to customers’ needs in various countries.

Data quality: the foundation for AI-driven success

To effectively sway decisions towards our electrification solutions, crafting compelling content that resonates with the audience’s expectations and level of understanding is imperative.

At the heart of every AI application lies one critical factor: data. AI systems can only be as good as the data they process. In an industry that generates millions of data points across its operations—from customer interactions to equipment performance—ensuring data quality is paramount. Without accurate, consistent, and up-to-date data, even the most advanced AI algorithms can fail.

AI tools assist in cleaning and organizing data, eliminating errors, and filling in gaps. For instance, Nexans used AI to process thousands of technical documents, which helped streamline workflows and improve decision-making across the organization.

Ensuring high-quality data is not just a best practice but a necessity for maximizing the effectiveness of AI in the electrification industry.

 

The human + AI partnership driving electrification

In every corner of the electrification industry—from designing fire-resistant cables to predicting power grid failures and safeguarding worker safety—AI is making significant contributions.

AI is not replacing human expertise but enhancing it. The future of electrification will be shaped by how well we integrate AI into our operations and decision-making processes.

By combining the power of AI with human ingenuity, we are on the cusp of an electrification revolution that promises a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world.

Nexans has embarked on a transformative journey, leveraging Generative AI not just as a tool for superior data quality but as a catalyst for human-AI collaboration, marking a new era of responsible data excellence. Our experience with Nexans AI has laid the groundwork for this evolution, streamlining operations and empowering our teams. As we integrate Generative AI, our focus on data quality becomes a cornerstone for innovation and efficiency.

By prioritizing data quality and integrating human oversight, we are setting new standards for data excellence. This partnership ensures that AI remains a force for good, driving innovation while upholding ethical standards and human values.

Patrick Fernandez

Author

With over a decade of expertise in Data Analytics and Management, Patrick Fernandez leads, as Head of Data, the organization’s data strategy and governance. His international experience and energy industry knowledge, including his tenure at Iberdrola, brings a unique perspective to his role. Passionate about efficiency and data sustainability, he is committed to building a modern data ecosystem and fostering a data-driven culture. His vision is to harness the full potential of data, transforming it into a powerful asset that fuels the organization’s decision-making processes and propels future growth strategies.

Digital disruption in the cable industry: for a more sustainable electrification journey
Digital and data innovation
06 September 2024
7 min
Digital disruption in the cable industry

The world of electricity is about to undergo an unprecedented digital transformation similar to what industry has achieved by digitizing all its processes and supply chain in the great wave of Industry 4.0.

Traditional approaches, rooted in linear models of production, distribution, and operations like grid monitoring, are increasingly inadequate to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. These outdated methods fall short in addressing the growing complexities and challenges of modern electrification.

The future of energy management lies in data-driven, real-time monitoring solutions.

Nexans is poised to lead this transformation with cutting-edge technology that enhances grid efficiency, reduces downtime, and generates significant cost savings for utilities. Today, investing in power network monitoring is not just a smart move—it’s essential for the future of energy.

The major challenges of the energy transition are linked to the electrification of the growing demand for electricity, but it will be absolutely impossible to renew and modernize all power grids for reasons of resources, copper, aluminum and expertise. It is therefore imperative to increase the reliability and lifespan of existing grids, and this step is fundamentally linked to the digitization of the grid.

Building an ecosystem that transforms the existing cable manufacturing value chain into an intelligent, sustainable, and resilient electrification landscape is key.

One promising avenue lies in the realm of digital technologies.

The power of digital: a revolution in electrification

A paradigm shift is actually underway. The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced data analytics is reshaping the way we design, manufacture and operate the power grid. This digital revolution offers a unique opportunity to create more efficient, resilient, and sustainable systems.

Digital technologies can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance quality throughout the entire electrical infrastructure lifecycle, from raw material sourcing to grid operations. By leveraging data-driven insights, companies can optimize their operations, identify new opportunities, and respond more effectively to market changes.

Moreover, digital technologies are also revolutionizing the customer experience. Through personalized digital platforms, companies can provide customers with real-time information, remote support and tailored solutions. This not only enhances customers’ ability to take the right decisions, but also fosters long-term loyalty and trust.

As the electrification industry continues to evolve, the companies that embrace digital transformation will be best positioned to thrive. By harnessing the power of data, automation and connectivity, these organizations can drive innovation, improve sustainability and create a more resilient and prosperous future.

Nexans, a leader in the electrification industry, believes that digital transformation is key to unlocking a more sustainable future. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we can optimize operations, improve grid resilience, and address the energy challenges of the 21st century.

Leveraging its decades of expertise, Nexans is highlighting 5 transformative innovations that will enhance customer, partner, and employee experiences while driving the industry toward a circular economy:

Digital disruption and sustainability

Digital transformation is revolutionizing the electrification sector

From AI to blockchain, digital offers unprecedented opportunities to optimize operations, improve the reliability of electrical grids, and address the energy challenges of the 21st century. By adopting these innovations, companies in the sector can not only strengthen their competitiveness but also contribute to building a more sustainable and intelligent energy future.

Nexans, as a pioneer in the field of electrification, is leading the charge in this digital transformation. By developing innovative solutions and collaborating with key industry players, we are paving the way toward a sustainable energy future.

Nexans’ digital innovations are more than just technological advancements; they represent our unwavering commitment to a smarter, safer, and more sustainable future. With each of these innovations, we are not only addressing the immediate needs of our stakeholders, but also laying the foundation for a circular economy that will benefit generations to come.

Join us on a journey into the future of electrical transmission as we explore the groundbreaking innovations that will redefine the industry.

Sébastien Weisse

Author

With over 20 years of experience in product marketing, digital transformation, and business development, Sébastien Weisse is spearheading innovation strategies across Nexans. As the current Innovation Director at Nexans, he focuses on driving digital and data advancements. Previously, he led global digital initiatives at Hager. A graduate of CentraleSupélec with a Master’s in Electric Energy and Information Sciences, he is passionate about enhancing customer experiences, fostering sustainable growth, and leading international teams to create long-term value.

Digital Twins: Turning complexity into better decisions
Energy & consumption resilience
14 March 2024
9 min
digital twins

Modern transmission and distribution electrical grids are the most complex machines ever built. They span continents and encompass numerous interconnecting components and subsystems—while intricately balancing energy demand and fluctuating supply.

Not only are today’s grids complex, they are mammoth in terms of components and their geographical size. There are over one billion operational smart meters worldwide and the cables and lines stretch across 80 million kilometers. In other words: ten roundtrips between earth and moon!

And this complexity is only expected to grow. According to a newly released IEA report—Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions—to reach climate targets and ensure energy security, 80 million kilometers of power lines will have to be replaced or added by 2040.

As power grids increase in complexity and scope, grid operators are turning to digital twins. While digital twins have been applied for decades by an array of industries, they are increasingly being used to help grid operators make strategic planning decisions, optimize operational performance, and manage risks within the context of unprecedented complexity.

electrical grid

3 factors that made grids so complex

  1. As the world transitions from fossil fuels to renewables, grids need a better equipment to handle the variability of energy sources from wind, solar and hydroelectric.
  2. The growing threat of severe weather caused by climate change is putting an additional strain on antiquated electric infrastructures globally.
  3. 40GW of rooftop solar panels have been installed worldwide in 2022. This massive, fuzzy, intermittent deployment of solar energy injected into the grid has brought major challenges in power quality and load forecast management.

To handle these growing challenges, power grid operators have turned to digitization to improve the operational management of networks. Smart meters and IoT sensors provide operators with valuable data; yet, they add an additional layer of complexity.

Digital twins: From grid knowledge to understanding

With this increasing complexity and the overwhelming flow of real-time data, digital twins are proving pivotal to the operation of smart grids. They are used in order to:

  • Simulate ‘what-if’ scenarios to understand, for example, operational outcomes of varying decisions
  • Manage and foresee maintenance needs
  • Avoid or limit grid downtime
  • Help operators present data-backed asset investment plans.

The power of digital twins is their capacity to virtually reproduce the multi-scale interactions and correlations between organizations, thus providing a more holistic view of the grid and avoiding decisions made in silos. This gives decision-makers of any given department, such as engineering, planning, and operations, the ability to stimulate the consequences of various decisions and their impact throughout the organization. As such, calculated decisions are made based on implications, expected outcomes, and trade-offs and not just on past knowledge and experience.

Digital twins are revolutionizing grid management, as demonstrated by the landmark initiative to build a digital twin of Europe’s electricity grid. One of the initiative’s key aims is fostering innovative technologies in the race to ensure the readiness of the electricity grid for the drastic increase of renewable energy and resiliency to future shocks (such as climate and cyber-attacks).

6 key areas where digital twins are revolutionary

There are six key areas where the deployment of IoT-connected instrumentation sensors together with digital twins are providing impactful benefits and value to grid operators.

digital twins - IoT

Nexans’ solutions: AI-powered analytics and simulation digital twins

Digital twins empower operators with enhanced visibility and grid transparency, predictive capabilities, and decision-making insights, all crucial for navigating the complexities of modern energy systems.

Nexans contributes in several ways to the modernization of grids, of which digital twins are an essential part, particularly with two of its solutions: Adaptix.Grid and Asset Electrical.

Adaptix.Grid, the AI-powered analytics offering from Nexans’ partner Sensewaves, provides power grid operators with a comprehensive and precise computable model of their grid that lays out the detailed topology of the network, even at low voltage levels. Thus enabling grid operators to shorten the intervention time of field crews in case of outages or visualize the areas of congestion accurately and re-balance the grid accordingly.

Simulation digital twins, such as Nexans’ Asset Electrical, built in partnership with CosmoTech, lets infrastructure owners simulate whether asset maintenance and renewal policy changes could impact the company’s quality of service or financial indicators.

For example, strategic asset managers using Asset Electrical can stimulate, leveraging objective data, whether postponing the replacement of an asset family reaching its theoretical end of life (meaning deferring capital expenditures) poses a significant risk regarding the occurrence of network incidents or from an environmental point of view.

Digital twins represent a significant paradigm shift in electrical grid management. They facilitate all aspects of the business and operational mission of grid operators. They are paving the way for more reliable, resilient, efficient, and sustainable power grids, thus enabling the industry to meet its ambitions to be at the forefront of the transition to clean and decarbonized energy.

Olivier Pinto

Author

Olivier Pinto is Nexans Innovation Director in charge of services and digital solutions for power grids. He leads a team of grid experts developing a portfolio of innovative offerings designed to solve the issues and address the challenges faced by electrical network operators, leveraging on a solid ecosystem of technology partners. Olivier joined Nexans in 2001 and has held various R&D, operational and sales & marketing positions. He holds a M.Sc. from the School of Chemistry, Physics & Electronics of Lyon, France.

Grid flexibility and digitalization – integral to the transition to clean energy
Energy & consumption resilience
13 December 2023
4 min
grid flexibility

As intermittent renewable energy becomes a larger share of the world’s power, grid flexibility will become increasingly instrumental. According to the European Commission Joint Research Center, compared to today, grid flexibility requirements will more than double by 2030 and be seven times as large by 2050.

As clean energy transition advances, grid digitalization will be an enabler alongside flexibility management. In recent years, grid digitalization investments have progressively increased from 12% of total grid investment in 2016 to 20% in 2022, driven by system operators requiring digital solutions to improve the management of the grid with real-time monitoring and control of energy flows for transmission and distribution networks.

Grid modernization is imperative to accommodate the expected electrification growth. Moving away from fossil-fuel-based electricity means that today’s grid must be able to integrate large share of renewable energy resources and address associated technical challenges.

Virtual power plants: The big move for electric generation

A new generation of distributed electricity resources (DERs) is gaining momentum as a way to solve the increasing demand for clean, renewable energy.

Advances in battery storage, EV and solar technology, coupled with the desire of utilities to expand renewable power, mean Virtual Power Plants (VPP) are fast becoming a favored approach to meeting growing electricity demand and the need for more resilient power systems.

A VPP is both a technical and transactional platform connecting a vast number of diverse resources to deliver, in seconds, a megawatt-scale power response to an instruction, reducing complexity for grid operators. In addition to the technical aspects, it provides the transactional flow by remunerating each resource for its contribution to the final service receiving payment from the Transmission System Operator (TSO), Distribution Grid Operator (DSO) or power market upon the available opportunity. Revenue stacking is gaining importance in delivering value to the DERs owners.

Because a VPP can provide power by tapping into the Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)—building blocks of VPPs—it can quickly balance supply and demand, thus avoiding potential power outages and reducing energy costs to the end user. In recent years, VPPs have increasingly been implemented in residential and commercial buildings to attract new buyers and provide reliable, lower-cost electricity. Even consumers can join a VPP. As an example, last year, Tesla launched its new power utility provider service in Texas that lets Powerwall owners sell excess energy back to the grid.

DER: paradigm shift in energy distribution

The distribution grid is facing unprecedented transformation as the growth in DERs increases. This transformation will require new levels of grid management and monitoring. The Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) is an essential component of the modern control center. Instrumental will be the digitalization of power flow observability, fault detection isolation and restoration, network reconfiguration and outage management systems. The new challenge of the distribution grid will predominantly be at the low-voltage level, where a greater level of observability is needed and requires the flexibility from DERs. This is where the Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS) complements the ADMS by enabling a grid aware DER flexibility orchestration down to low-voltage level.

paradigme-shift

Grid digitalization: a journey

Realizing this digitalized future grid is a transformation journey with some key points we can highlight.

The first is to understand the network’s topology and the grid’s ADMS and DERMS platforms to see if the overall network is being used to its full potential. The second is the observability of the network at low-voltage level. The Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems predominantly cover medium-voltage, while investments to monitor and control at low-voltage levels are often lacking. Yet, data driven approach tapping into smart meters or other available monitoring devices can overcome this limitation enhancing capabilities offered through the ADMS and DERMS.

The third is the interoperability and cybersecurity of the VPP, ADMS, and DERMS. Interoperability is essential to enable a smooth operation between these different systems. Cybersecurity is vital as the connections between grids and third-party operators increase.

Finally, it is important to ensure that grid equipment and cable systems, in particular, are sized appropriately for variability. Optimizing resource allocation is essential to ensuring future network expansions.

To solve the lack of network observability, Nexans is collaborating with Sensewaves to create a computable grid topology for DSOs. Sensewaves’ Artificial Intelligence-based analytics software leverages smart meter data (or other sources) to enhance planning and asset reliability (particularly cable systems) for DSOs. This unique combination of data analytics and AI provides invaluable insights beyond operational management typically offered through the ADMS and DERMS platforms.

Grid modernization is imperative to adapt to the expected electrification growth. Moving away from fossil-fuel-based electricity means that today’s grid must be able to accommodate the interconnection of renewables. New technologies in distributing, transmitting, and managing clean energy will play an instrumental role in reducing carbon emissions.

Anne-Soizic Ranchère

Author

Anne-Soizic Ranchere is in charge of Marketing for Power Accessories and Grid Design Lab at Nexans.

She has 16 years’ experience in the electrical sector, in strategic analysis, product innovation and project valuation. She worked at ENGIE in Belgium as a Senior Analyst, managing the valuation of investment projects in power generation infrastructure.

She has extensive experience in the field of smart grids and energy services, having held senior positions in marketing, operations and innovation at a leading company in the field of electrical flexibility in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as in Singapore as principal in the energy research institute and a consulting firm.

Anne-Soizic holds a Master’s Degree in Science and Executive Engineering from Mines ParisTech.

5 sensor technologies for value-driven grid data management
Energy & consumption resilience
29 November 2023
6 min
banniere-cinq-technologies-de-detection

The necessary transformation of grids, in a context of a world’s transition to renewable energy and of a growing demand for decarbonized electricity, requires an infusion of digital intelligence.

In this context, sensors are essential. They are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the modern power grid, providing invaluable data critical to the reliability, efficiency, and adaptability of tomorrow’s grid data management.

Five sensor data technologies are transforming today’s power grids.

1. Smart meters for an effective energy measurement

compteurs-intelligents

Smart meters have quickly become the innovative solution of choice to metering energy effectively. In the past decade, they have overwhelmingly replaced traditional meters and transformed the interaction of utilities and consumers with energy resources. According to the International Energy Agency, more than one billion smart power meters are globally in use, a ten-fold increase since 2010.

They allow consumers to monitor their consumption smartly and energy providers to analyze better usage patterns and forecast future energy consumption needs. They enable a reliable, efficient, and resilient network.

Smart meters come in three variations, each with different features:

  • Standard smart meters accurately measure electricity consumption and enable remote meter reading, eliminating the need for manual readings. They often support time-of-use pricing, allowing consumers to save money by using electricity during off-peak hours.
  • Intermediate models add two-way communication between consumer and utility. They offer load profiling, providing detailed data for optimizing grid operations and load management. They may also support outage detection, helping utilities respond promptly to power interruptions. These meters may incorporate tamper detection mechanisms, alerting utilities of potential electrical energy theft, which can result in important non-technical losses to the operator.
  • Advanced meters often support demand response programs, enabling utilities to control or adjust electricity demand remotely during peak times. As power quality sensors become the standard, it will help to identify voltage fluctuations and sags. Grid monitoring capabilities offer insights into the health and performance of the distribution grid, such as low voltage arcing or faults, allowing utilities to take proactive maintenance measures.

2. Single and multi-conductor current sensors

To meet ambitious net zero targets and avoid volatile and rising energy costs, grids must reduce unnecessary energy wastage.

Sarah Marie Jordaan, Assistant Professor of Energy, Resources, and Environment at Johns Hopkins University, says 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide can be cut by improving global grid efficiencies. These savings represent more than one percent of the worldwide CO2 annual emissions. But as Scottish-Irish physicist William Thomson, better known as Lord Kelvin, wisely said, ‘If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.’

Solutions such as single and multi-conductor current sensors are a game changer for process and plant managers. They are field-proven solutions that can be installed directly around conductors and cable feeders to selectively and rapidly deploy audit sessions. They enable installation without operation interruption so as to build concrete energy-saving strategies leading to energy consumption reduction of up to 20 percent.

25-billion-devices

3. Energy harvesting: converting small amounts of energy from the environment

In remote or challenging-to-access locations, the deployment of sensors poses sustainability and operational expenditure challenges, primarily concerning battery management.

With the industry set to witness over 25 billion connected objects in the sector by 2025, energy harvesting emerges as a pivotal technology to facilitate the expansion of sustainable sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

As a concept, energy harvesting involves capturing and converting small amounts of energy from the environment or nearby power sources, such as cables. The most prevalent energy harvesting method is photovoltaic, which transforms light into electrical energy. Cost-effective and customizable for indoor lighting applications, it is an ideal fit for IoT solutions.

Inductive technology is another popular choice for cable systems. It empowers devices to operate independently by harnessing energy from power cores or terminations. This approach offers sensor functionality without the need for maintenance, delivers environmental benefits, and extends the system’s lifespan.

Recent advancements in electronic devices, including processing units and low-power wireless technologies, enhance overall efficiency and thus establish the harvesting approach as a reliable power source.

4. Edge-to-cloud: a revolution in maintenance practices

Edge-to-cloud integration is continuously revolutionizing maintenance practices, making them smarter and more efficient, particularly in the context of power grids.

At the edge, innovative hardware, including microcontroller technologies, such as advanced FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), are strategically placed along the grid to collect real-time cable system health data parameters such as load, temperature, humidity, vibration, or electromagnetic transient.

They enable real-time feature extraction, allowing fast processing of critical data patterns from raw information at the edge. This capability enhances the quality and relevance of the data transmitted to the cloud for further analysis and storage.

Edge AI, driven by supervised machine learning, aids in raw data filtering, such as noise reduction and early detection of deviation from standard operating conditions.

This data is then transmitted to on-premises or cloud maintenance applications such as Nexans’ Asset Monitoring Platform designed to bring decision making insights to asset managers and maintenance teams.. The seamless connectivity between the edge and the cloud empowers grid operators to implement predictive and condition-based maintenance strategies. By harnessing the power of this technology, they can identify early warning signs of asset failures, optimize maintenance schedules, and reduce costly downtime.

Edge-to-cloud technology plays a pivotal role in making grid maintenance proactive and data-driven, ultimately leading to increased reliability, enhanced safety, and cost savings, all while ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

5. Fiber optics: minimizing power disruptions

Optical fiber can be applied for remote data acquisition or as distributed sensor applications where traditional techniques are impractical or costly to deploy.

The emergence of fiber optic sensing technology is providing grid operators with a more cost-effective and accurate way of acquiring data compared to punctual sensors.

Distributed fiber optic sensing is the ability to continuously measure activity throughout the power grid, helping operators to quickly pinpoint the exact location of potential or actual disruptions and thus minimize or even avoid costly power outages.

fiber-optics

Sensitivity of fibers to temperature and mechanical strain offer a comprehensive approach to distributed sensor applications:

  • Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) enables the early detection of abnormal events such as hotspots and thermal bottlenecks due to condition changes in the surrounding laying environment of the cable. When combined with real time temperature rating algorithm, DTS systems allow to assess the operational condition and circuit power rating, allowing safer operation of the cable to its real conditions.
  • Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) offers precise fault detection, localization and third-party interference detection both onshore (e.g., cable theft, digging, and drilling) and offshore (e.g., anchor drops and drags). Thus, providing efficient power cable condition monitoring by listening 24/7 to acoustic signatures.
  • Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) continuously measures strain and deformation along the cable’s length. It enables the assessment of cable structural health data, ensuring that cables are not subjected to excessive mechanical stress (bending, stretching, etc).

Nexans has been at the forefront of distributed fiber optic sensing measurement technology for high-voltage (HV) cables since the early 1990s, beginning with the installation of a Distributed Temperature Monitoring (DTS) system used for the Skagerrak 3 link between Norway and Denmark. Since then, these technologies have undergone continuous enhancements in length, precision, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

With the emergence of innovative new technologies, sensors play a vital role in shifting to smart electrical grids. Sensors provide invaluable data critical to the reliability, efficiency, and adaptability of tomorrow’s grid data management.

Aymeric André

Authors

Aymeric André works as New Solutions Manager at Nexans within the Sales & Marketing department of the Generation & Transmission Business Group.

In 2019 he joined Nexans Services and solutions team within the Innovation Service and Growth Department as a Design Lab Manager for asset monitoring to help enhance the company’s digital offers.

He has previously worked at the SuperGrid Institute where he led a research program on high voltage subsea technologies.

Samuel Griot

Samuel Griot is the head of electrical engineering department within Nexans Innovation.

He leads a team of experts developing new innovative solutions for low, medium and high voltage applications in order to answer the future needs for the electrical grids. Samuel joined Nexans in 2021 and has a strong background in electrical grid architecture and switchgears.

He holds a Master degree in electrical engineering from INSA of Lyon, France.

Digital solutions for building construction: A path to progress
Digital and data innovation
18 July 2023
5 min
Digitalization in building construction

A wave of change is happening in the building industry. As we’ve witnessed in the last couple of years, the sector once referred to as “brick and mortar” is bracing itself for a digital revolution. Traditionally slow to embrace new technologies, resulting in decades-long productivity stagnation, digitalization of the $7.5 trillion building construction market is long overdue.

In the 2022 McKinsey global survey of over 500 executives in the building products sector, an overwhelming 70% expected to increase their investment in innovation and R&D. So much so that survey respondents ranked digital design tools such as building information modeling (BIM), software solutions and automation ahead of sustainability.

Investing in innovation and R&D is expected to be the key market differentiator in the next three to five years – rippling across the entire value chain and driven in part by climate change and productivity.

Digitalization of the construction and building sector

Productivity has long been a major issue in the construction sector, with the average capital project running 20 months behind schedule and a staggering 80% over budget. The industry is increasingly applying digital tools across the entire spectrum, from design and construction to operations, but at varying levels depending on the construction phase.

Improving productivity necessitates closing the gap between product and document management systems to simplify and increase technician productivity.

Even as gains have been made, there is vast potential to further improve productivity through increased usage of digital technologies in all phases of the processes—design, construction, and operations.

With increasing government regulation for the industry to decarbonize, digitalization is a crucial enabler in reducing the environmental impact of construction projects globally.

Electrification of buildings

As the electrification of buildings grows and expands in the years to come, ensuring efficient implementation of cabling solutions is essential to safety and productivity gains. Narrowing the gap between productivity management tools and document management systems is one key to easing the work of electricians. As skilled labor shortages continue, further enhancements in information access and traceability are vital.

The digital connection between the physical product and its accompanying documentation is lacking in the industry. This is often the case with electrical products, where installers seldom have easy access to up-to-date documentation. The lack of traceability means details such as who installed the product are often lost once the initial work is completed.

As buildings move from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the demand for skilled electricians will increase, along with the need for tech-related professionals to manage the influx of digital systems and tools required to meet this industry shift.

Foundation of the digital revolution

As the building sector moves forward in its digital transformation, Building Information Modeling (BIM) will increasingly become the standard and foundation of construction projects. This bridging of physical building elements with their accompanying digital format (referred to as BIM content) facilitates the working processes throughout a building project’s value cycle from planning and design to construction and operations.

BIM content provides architects, designers, and builders easy access to essential product information such as installation instructions, energy consumption, eco-labels, operation costs, and product lifecycle. Nexans is working with BIM providers to integrate its offerings so as to facilitate electrical cable installation, maintenance, and safety.

As newer technologies such as drones, robotics, and 3D printing become more commonplace on construction sites, ensuring that BIM is the foundation of the construction industry’s digital strategy is critical. According to McKinsey, the move to 5D BIM, combining 3D physical models of buildings with cost, design, and scheduling data, could result in a 10% savings in contract value by detecting clashes, reducing project life span, and potentially reducing material costs by 20%.

Navigating analog to digital

The shift from analog to digital documentation and traceability is key to moving the building products market forward. And thus, reversing the industry’s fragmentation to ensure better productivity, cost efficiency, and safety. This is especially important in the electrification of buildings to provide safe installation and operations.

Thanks to its cloud-based app, Evermark™, Nexans provides its clients easy access to information about the physical product installed, such as follow-up of maintenance, electrical drawings and product data. Thanks to NFC tags, Evemark™ provides a digital connection between the physical product and the necessary documentation, and ensure full traceability of the electrical installation throughout the product’s lifecycle—from implementation phases to maintenance and replacement. It provides immediate access to pertinent information on- and off-site, reducing cost and time while increasing productivity.

With new technologies come new possibilities. The key is ensuring that future digital tools integrate seamlessly for a heightened level of customer satisfaction.

Jenny Nyström

Author

Jenny Nÿstrom is Nordics Design Lab & Innovation within Nexans. She has been working in the cable industry since nearly 20 years, being involved in the domain of product marketing and product management, mainly for Building, Telecom and Utility sectors.

IoT and electrification: Innovations shaping the future
Digital and data innovation
18 April 2023
8 min
Internet of Things IoT

The Internet of Things and connected objects: the stakes ahead

By 2030, there will be 30 billion connected objects worldwide, including 244 million in France, according to estimates by ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition) and Arcep (the country’s electronic communications authority). Some will be everyday objects, others will be used in professional applications.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is briming with development potential and exciting possibilities for homes and businesses. As it expands, the IoT also brings new innovative solutions for electrification. It will help industrial companies increase their productivity and help people reduce their energy consumption at home. And it is growing 15% to 20% a year across the board.

Let’s deep dive into the IoT concept, the prospects for harnessing electrification, and the issues and challenges surrounding it.

The Internet of Things: how does it work?

The IoT is a network of connected devices with built-in microprograms, sensors and connectors enabling them to interact with the Internet. Examples range from household appliances to electricity meters and on to cable drums.

The IoT, in a nutshell, makes things smart. They can collect data, process it onsite and share it online or with other devices to analyze it in more depth. Then they can take measures to improve operations or automate tasks.

When you transfer data online, you can build an intelligent ecosystem where you can use devices in more sensible and more modular ways. You can upgrade a home into a smart home, a city into a smart city and a grid into a smart grid. In France, with 35 million smart meters, electrification is among the sectors that have reached the most advanced stages of digitalization with the IoT. And it will reach even further as Enedis, which operates the country’s electricity distribution system, has announced plans to install 250,000 sensors throughout its grid over the next 5 years.

The possibilities on the operation side are opening up numerous opportunities. For example, home automation environments will be able to manage energy consumption. For connected objects to communicate effectively, however, they need specific systems. These include radio-wave modules, sensors, cellular routers and gateways, and they are all essential to manage data flows and tackle the related challenges.

IoT and innovative electrification solutions

The IoT is bringing in an array of electrification solutions that create value in homes and companies:

  • Managing energy consumption: the IoT can help consumers keep an eye on their energy consumption and manage it more efficiently using real-time electricity and gas meter readings. Smart connected objects can also be programmed to switch off automatically when they are not being used, which also reduces energy costs.
  • Monitoring equipment: companies can use the IoT to monitor their solar panels, wind turbines and other systems remotely, to make sure they are running properly and optimize their output.
  • Storing energy: the IoT can also help to monitor and manage storage levels, and optimize battery charging-discharging cycles.
  • Reducing costs: the IoT can also help to reduce operation and servicing costs by enabling predictive maintenance, shortening downtime, and optimizing supply chains and use of resources.
  • Optimizing grid operation: the IoT does this by tracking demand for energy in real time and adjusting supply accordingly, which can help to reduce power production costs and optimize distribution.

Issues and challenges around connected products

There are several practical and economic issues and challenges surrounding IoT operation.

IoT communication

When you have objects scattered around the globe, the first challenge is to interconnect them. Some of them may be in city centers, others may be in out-of-the-way places that telecom networks barely reach. To tackle this challenge and improve scalability, Nexans uses a variety of communication protocols and teams up with telecom operators worldwide.

Then you must integrate the routers, sensors and other devices mentioned earlier. Three main notions come into play in IoT rollout:

  • the reach of the equipment and connected objects you use;
  • energy consumption;
  • bandwidth requirements and capacity.

In other words, you must adapt the available resources to match the complexity of the infrastructure—and that infrastructure can span a local area, a country or the globe. That is why it is important to partner up with other experts, as Nexans started doing with Orange in 2020.

Cybersecurity for the IoT

Cybersecurity is as central to the IoT as its efficiency. The more connected objects, the greater the risk of cyberattacks, because the objects collect sensitive data and can provide hackers with a back door into a company’s information system. The entry point can be a computer as much as a connected object.

Even something as simple as a camera can be a way into the core system. A casino in London, for example, was hacked through an Internet-connected fish-tank thermometer linked to the rest of the system. Ironclad security protocols are an absolute must for the IoT: a device can be a risk however harmless it may seem.

The IoT business model

Large-scale IoT rollout is viable even when you factor in all the complexity associated with integration. It for instance provides several advantages in industrial production and supply chains:

  • smoother goods flows and real-time monitoring and updates;
  • more efficient collaboration between departments;
  • better goods tracking and transit;
  • swift and secure data collection;
  • tighter control over stock.

Besides all of the above, customer service teams can respond faster, especially when they have to deal with delivery delays or other problems.

Ultracker: the Nexans solution to optimize supply chains

Here at Nexans, we have developed Ultracker, a pioneering digital solution to harness the possibilities in the data collected by IoT sensors, combined with artificial intelligence and cloud storage.

With this solution, our customer installers and utilities can:

  1. optimize their working capital and logistics flows;
  2. shrink their carbon footprint by shortening drum rotation cycles;
  3. reduce losses and prevent cable theft.

The IoT trackers embedded in our cable drums and transportation fleets, and our cable-related products, enable customers to track drum status more closely, see a clearer picture of their stock levels and supervise jobsites remotely. This cuts raw material and supply wastage.

Nexans’ IoT expertise, and the solutions we have set up with our partners enable cable system and cable life cycles management, range from delivery on site to measuring how much cable there is left on a drum before pick-up. A leading European electricity distributor that adopted Ultracker to monitor its cables via the IoT is saving over €1 million a year.