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| Company | Telemark Nett |
| Location |
Norway
|
| Timeline | 2025 |
| Project Overview | Telemark Nett deployed Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® to improve visibility and fault detection across its 66 kV transmission network. During a severe windstorm, the system enabled the utility to detect and localize intermittent earth faults that traditional protection systems could not fully identify—allowing proactive field intervention and improved grid safety. |
| Products | Safegrid Intelligent Grid System® |
This is a Safegrid Case Study.
Background
Telemark Nett operates a 66 kV transmission network across rugged terrain and densely forested areas in Norway. The combination of challenging geography and unpredictable weather conditions makes maintaining grid reliability particularly difficult.
Vegetation-related disturbances, especially during storms, often lead to transient or intermittent faults. These faults can be difficult to identify because they may not result in permanent damage or trigger protective tripping, yet they still pose a risk to grid stability and safety.
Challenge
During a stormy night, Telemark Nett encountered multiple intermittent earth faults:
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Protection relays registered fault starts without tripping
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Faults were short-lived and transient, making them hard to track
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Likely caused by trees swaying near overhead lines
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Complex network topology near the Lio substation intersections complicated localization
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No visible damage or clear evidence of the root cause
Without precise location data, identifying and resolving these faults would have required time-consuming manual inspections.
Solution
Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® provided real-time monitoring and advanced analytics to detect and localize the fault activity.
Key capabilities:
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Detection of intermittent and low-intensity fault events
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Identification of patterns and fault-prone areas
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Precise localization of fault activity at specific network intersections
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Actionable insights to guide field crews
By analyzing fault frequency and intensity, Safegrid highlighted the most critical areas, enabling Telemark Nett to focus inspection efforts efficiently.
Benefits
The solution delivered significant operational advantages:
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Enhanced visibility into transient and intermittent faults
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Accurate fault localization, reducing inspection time
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Reduced reliance on manual trial-and-error inspections
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Faster and more efficient field response
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Improved operational decision-making during complex events
Results
Following Safegrid’s insights:
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Fault-prone areas were quickly identified and inspected
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Field crews found trees growing close to 66 kV lines
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Confirmed that wind-driven vegetation caused intermittent earth faults
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Potential hazards were addressed before escalation
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Improved grid safety and reliability
“Safegrid’s system gave us a level of visibility we simply didn’t have before. We were able to find and address a potential hazard before it escalated. That’s a major win for operational reliability.”
— Torfinn Heggtveit, Operation Engineer, Telemark Nett
Conclusion
This case highlights the importance of intelligent monitoring in managing complex fault scenarios such as intermittent and transient earth faults. While traditional protection systems may detect fault starts without triggering corrective actions, Safegrid provides the deeper insights needed to understand and resolve these issues.
By enabling precise fault localization and proactive response, Safegrid empowered Telemark Nett to mitigate risks, enhance operational efficiency, and maintain a safer, more reliable grid, even under challenging environmental conditions.