At OPENTUNITY, we are committed to unlocking the full potential of the grid, making it smarter, more flexible, and ready for the demands of a high-renewable future. This summer, our partner Anell has taken a significant step toward that goal.

Where?

In a medium-voltage line within Anell’s distribution network in Catalonia (Spain).

What Happened?

Two temperature sensors were installed directly on the conductor of a medium-voltage line as part of OPENTUNITY’s Real-Time Thermal Rating (RTTR) use case.

Why does this matter?

Traditionally, distribution system operators use static and conservative estimates to define the maximum current capacity of their lines, often based on worst-case weather conditions. In reality, line capacity varies depending on the actual conductor temperature, which fluctuates with current and ambient conditions. Under favorable conditions, the line can safely carry more energy than these conservative limits suggest.

That’s where OPENTUNITY comes in.

Smarter Algorithms for a Smarter Grid

Instead of deploying expensive sensors across the entire grid, OPENTUNITY is developing a data-driven algorithm to estimate conductor temperature in real time, using only ambient temperature and electrical current measurements.

To validate this model, Anell installed two temperature sensors on a live grid segment, enabling a comparison between measured and estimated conductor temperatures. These insights will support further development of the algorithm and its future deployment at scale.

“If we have better information on the capacity of our grid in real time, we can take better decisions when operating it at critical moments. Real-time thermal rating provides us just that.” – Anell team

Why Sentrisense?

As part of the validation, Anell chose to work with Sentrisense, a startup offering a lightweight and cost-effective temperature sensor design that differs from most commercial options. OPENTUNITY partners are now receiving data from the devices to refine their tools and algorithms.