Testing and scaling of an electro-magnetic power on line generator for remote areas

Project Information

POLG

Grant agreement ID: 744854

DOI

10.3030/744854

Project closed

EC signature date 23 November 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 28 February 2017

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

LAKI POWER EHF
Iceland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POLG (Testing and scaling of an electro-magnetic power on line generator for remote areas)

Reporting period: 2016-11-01 to 2017-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Iceland based company Laki Power is developing an innovative product called the Power On-line Generator (POLG). The POLG is a weather-sealed device that clamps onto any current-carrying phase wires of high voltage power lines and harvests energy from the surrounding electromagnetic field. Laki Power has engineered their POLG unit to harvest more energy than any other competing. The power harvested is sufficient to provide direct current (DC) power for external and internal surveillance video and monitoring devices and many other sensors for a variety applications needing clean and stable DC power. Laki Power developed the POLG to meet the needs of the Icelandic electricity transmission system operator to monitor their lines that experience some of the harshest weather conditions on earth. There is a need to monitor lines in remote areas with difficult access, as usable power is not readily available despite being next to power lines. Current methods of monitoring lines often use diesel generators, solar panels, and wind turbines to power monitoring devices. These often fail under extreme conditions and are difficult to maintain. The POLG was designed to meet the needs of electrical transmission and distribution system operators worldwide, as they will be the only end users that can legally install POLG units on the lines. POLG units will help them reduce costs of monitoring, and increase security and reliability of electrical supply. The POLG is not only applicable to cold extremes, but is also relevant for measuring the heat extremes that power lines experience in southern climates. The five objectives of Laki Power’s POLG include the following: 1) Development of a robust enclosure made from carbon fibre and fibre glass that will protect sensitive equipment from harsh weather and the extremes of the electrical field surrounding POLG. 2) Design the POLG so that it may be clamped onto phase wires safely and as easily as possible. 3) To improve the firmware and software for controlling POLG(s) with compliance of industry standards. 4) POLG designs that will work on a variety of power lines. 5) Further improvements will include miniaturizing POLG and developing POLGs for different requirements, such as for the telecommunications market in the future. Laki Power’s POLG is currently at a technology readiness level (TRL) 6 stage of development with the goal of achieving TRL9 and market launch after the funding period.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work executed during the reporting period from November 2016 to February 2017 has been finalised to cover the tasks listed below and to assess the market, technical, and business plans for Laki Power’s POLG.
Task 1: Preparation for the in-Depth Market Study of Laki Power’s POLG with analysis to determine end users and market opportunities for this unique product. This includes identifying the electrical transmission and distribution system operators’ marketplace and determining that through industry partnerships the Nordic region is best to enter first. Laki Power has recognised that the best approach to enter new European markets is through regional distribution. Parts supp
liers have been sourced for components to manufacture the POLG. The in-depth market study also includes a risk analysis from a commercial, regulatory, and financial perspective with mitigation proposals. A comprehensive analysis of competing products indicates that the POLG is a unique design. The POLG will be certified in Europe to meet all regulatory requirements.
Task 2: The technical work plan prioritizes the tasks needed to take POLG from the current technology readiness level (TRL)6 to TRL9. This includes the design, engineering, and software programming activities to carry out, as well as planning for commercialization and searching for industry partners. Costs have been estimated for tasks and responsibilities assigned to achieve milestones. Parts suppliers for the critical components have been located. A thorough intellectual property search has been undertaken with no known infringements with other products discovered. Laki Power has filed for a patent in Iceland and will file patents in other territories as they expand. A review of European industry regulations has been completed and certification labs for the POLG have been contacted.
Task 3: The business plan has been updated to include a financial and sales forecast of POLG. At this time, the POLG is Laki Power’s only product offering. In the future, Laki Power plans to offer POLG units of varying sizes and features. The main costs of the POLG project are the following: 1) design work 2) testing and production of prototypes 3) materials and production costs 4) certification processes 5) marketing and sales. Laki Power currently estimates that they will become profitable in 2021, two years after market launch. Laki Power has prepared a Business Model Canvas to manage their strategy.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Laki Power’s POLG unit has been designed to specifically meet the critical infrastructure needs of the electrical power networks. Transmission System Operators (TSO) and Distribution System Operators (DSO) frequently lack usable, operational power in the remote areas where power lines are installed to connect monitoring equipment. Depending on the amperage of the power line, Laki Power’s POLG unit provides the most wattage of direct current (DC) power to run more devices than any other competitors’ product. The POLG is an interesting product in that it is designed specifically for a niche market: TSOs and DSOs. Although highly regulated, this market literally spans the world and the POLG can be used for many varied applications. Laki Power has concentrated their efforts to design the POLG for extreme environments, with a focus on the Nordic regions and those areas with extreme heat where power lines are in most need of monitoring. Through their partnership with Icelandic TSO Landsnet, Laki Power intends to branch out into these markets, and through direct contact of TSOs and through regional partnerships to expand into the vast DSO markets of Europe.
Upon completion Laki Power will have engineered and built their cost-effective POLG unit to generate “free” electricity through the use of physics and technology. Sealed within a robust enclosure that will withstand the rigors of any environment, the POLG will reliably, cleanly, and silently generate electricity to monitor the electrical lines that are critical for modern society. The POLG unit will transform the way electrical grids around the world are monitored and maintained. Not only will this benefit the consumers of the POLG: TSOs and DSOs, it will secure a more reliable supply of electricity for society as a whole.

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