Outcomes and impact
Fibre-optic thermometry is an emerging technology that can improve the measurement of temperature in harsh environments for energy providers and the industry sector due to distributed sensing and immunity to electromagnetic fields. This project will remove barriers to the widespread use of fibre-optic thermometry in various sectors by providing novel, traceable temperature measurement solutions.
These solutions will be crucial in areas where temperature measurement and control play a key role but are inaccessible to conventional electrical methods. They will impact the energy infrastructure by making it more efficient, flexible, resilient and reliable in the face of future challenges. Additionally, this project will bolster the position of fibre-optic temperature measurement manufacturers and service providers in Europe.
Outcomes for the metrology and scientific communities
The development of guidelines and best practices will have a high impact on the metrology community, as it will create a higher degree of reproducibility between laboratories. National Metrology Institutes (NMI) will be able to work towards meeting the needs of project stakeholders as a natural part of the project. Improved and calibrated fibre-optic thermometry instruments will make them suitable for a variety of research fields, ranging from electrical engineering of power converters to optimisation of chemical production, where this type of temperature sensors is much less susceptible to errors caused by the harsh environment.
Outcomes for industrial and other user communities
The project will enhance energy transmission networks by improving temperature measurements in power cables, transformer stations, and other key components, leading to advanced load management and monitoring. Fibre-optic sensors will enable the energy industry to manage rising demands on infrastructure in the context of energy transition.
Additionally, the project will develop monitoring and control solutions for energy storage systems, potentially minimizing downtime for solar and wind power. By enabling the measurement of distributed temperature profiles instead of single-points in energy reservoirs with molten salts or other materials. These solutions will improve thermal energy measurement, increase storage efficiency by preventing unwanted mixing, and ensure safety by detecting hot or cold spots.
The nuclear sector will also benefit from improved measurements in hard-to-access areas or high electromagnetic fields, which interfere with conventional temperature sensors such as thermocouples and platinum resistance thermometers.
To promote widespread uptake, the project promotes strong stakeholder engagement and training on novel methodologies, encouraging early adoption by manufacturers and paving the way for future competitive products. A robust European calibration infrastructure will support market comparisons, boosting the adoption of calibrated fibre-optic sensors. This development is further supported by the promotion of project results to the standardisation community with the aim of developing new standards.
Longer-term economic, social and environmental impacts
The project will remove barriers to the widespread use of fibre-optic thermometry in various sectors where temperature measurement and control is critical but inaccessible by other methods. This will increase the efficiency of energy-intensive processes and power generation, and hence improve the resilience of increasingly stressed electrical grids.
A resilient and efficient energy supply is a key factor for the location of many industries. The necessary optimisation and monitoring of energy infrastructure is therefore essential to enable energy-intensive industries in the long term. It will also help to improve the quality of industrial processes and reduce downtime, thereby reducing indirect costs and strengthening the economy.
The creation of new standards, the capability for traceable calibration of fibre‑optic sensors and the penetration of these technologies into the wider society will support fibre-optic sensor manufacturer and measurement application services.