Beneath the ocean floor lies a complex network of critical infrastructure, comprising over 4,000 subsea power and telecom cables globally that facilitate over 99% of the world’s internet and phone connectivity. Subsea interconnectors are growing rapidly in number as they allow energy to be transferred between countries, distributing clean power and keeping costs low for consumers.
National Grid operates six interconnectors to Europe that power 3 million homes, with a sixth under construction. These interconnectors are critical for enabling the UK to build a greener economy and meeting their net zero commitments as it will spare the UK around 100 million tons of carbon dioxide, by replacing fossil fuels with clean sources.
However, monitoring the health and security of cables that run under the ocean floor is challenging. One potential major hazard for these cables are fishing trawlers, which drag heavy nets and chains across the ocean floor to scoop up fish. While the cables are buried and designed to withstand impact, repeated trawling can increase the odds of damage or even worse a complete outage. This risk can be further increased if the seabed moves to leave them exposed. Something that is exacerbated by storms, that are forecast to become more frequent because of Climate Change.
Working with Mesh-AI - and harnessing Microsoft Azure technologies - National Grid developed a digital tool called OceanBrain, reimagining how undersea cables are monitored by predicting the likelihood of accidental damage. It combines complex data sources (including cable location, burial depth and seabed type) with machine learning to automatically quantify the risk of potential damage.
Better information gives cable operators and insurers a more accurate idea of how their infrastructure might fare in the future. With real-time alerts, crews can make adjustments to manage those risks, reduce the chances of outages, and keep renewable energy flowing.
“I really enjoyed working with Mesh-AI - it was awesome! Their expertise, their approach, their flexibility really shone through. They ramped up really quickly, with a team that would have taken us months, maybe even years to recruit. What we’ve built is absolutely transformational and unbelievably important to our way of life.” - Ben Gill, Principal Product Manager, National Grid
