The Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) system provides protective ground wire functionality while transporting data through fiber optics within a single overhead cable. OPGW development addresses power grid lightning protection and high-speed data transmission for next-generation smart grids. The simultaneous utilization of these functions in overhead cables results in reduced utility expenses and strengthens power grid stability.
The article evaluates the superior performance outcomes of OPGW compared to conventional options by examining this technology's role in enhancing research in power distribution systems through technical, economic, and operational components.
The construction of OPGW technology combines metal materials that encase optical fibers, with steel or aluminum forming the outer shell. Common designs include:
1. OPGW achieves its design by integrating fibers within stainless steel tubes, which receive protective reinforcement from aluminum-clad steel (ACS) wire structures.
2. Layered stranding systems place their optical units precisely between aluminum alloy wires and ACS wires.
This robust structure ensures:
● Structural deployment becomes possible for spans exceeding 500 meters due to tensile strength capabilities of 70 kN.
● The external aluminum layer protects the structure by preventing oxidation in coastal and industrial conditions.
● The system achieves temperature reliability between -40°C and 85°C, enabling operation in arctic and desert climates.
● Dual function efficiency: Joint use of the system reduces installation costs by 30–40 percent by combining grounding and communication applications.
● EMI immunity: Does not affect optical fibers as they inherently resist such electromagnetic disturbances, allowing them to maintain data quality near high-voltage lines.
● Disaster resilience: Survives ice storms, wildfires, and seismic events better than underground cables.
As a strong cable OPGW enables transmission for long-distance 500kV Extended High Voltage lines.
● Fault Current Handling: Conducts up to 50 kA for 1 second, critical for fault diversion in cross-country grids.
● Real-time monitoring: Phasor measurement units (PMUs) where the fiber data transfer operates at 120 samples each second.
● Case study: The Brazilian Belo Monte-Rio de Janeiro power line stretches 2,500 kilometer (km) in total length because OPGW technology connect hydroelectric power to urban power consumption areas leading to transmission loss reductions of 15% percent.
Newly constructed power grid systems receive future-proof benefits from OPGW technology design.
● Organizations operating under Caliber Telecom generate revenue by allowing utilities to utilize their unused fiber infrastructure. India’s Power Grid Corporation generated $200M through fiber leasing operations.
● The Andean mountains of Peru necessitated OPGW for its economic impracticality to install buried power cables through rocky terrain.
OPGW enables self-healing grids through:
● Substation automation: Supports IEC 61850 protocols for relay coordination and fault isolation within 20 milliseconds.
● Distributed Energy Integration: Component monitors renewable power resources within the German Energiewende project to manage intermittent energy output.
The installation of OPGW on existing transmission lines prevents operators from facing four major issues:
● Japanese utilities recognized financial benefits from replacing tower ground wires instead of installing new fiber cables, which saved the company $12M per kilometer.
● The bare hand working methods allows personnel to conduct live-line maintenance without disrupting power supply.
OPGW enhances inter-substation coordination by:
● Synchrophasor networks: Provides time synchronization of less than 1 microsecond for grid stability during frequency excursions.
● Condition Monitoring: Relies on distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology to accurately detect transformer hotspots within ±1°C.
The northern Utah area benefits from APHG infrastructure installations on Alaska’s North Slope.
● Predictive maintenance: Fiber Bragg grating sensors alert operators to conductor sag or tower corrosion.
● Emergency response: The deployment of OTDR systems enables emergency teams to restore power service 50% faster after avalanches by locating problems within the network.
● OPGW: $20,000–$30,000 per km (tower-based)
● The installation of ADSS systems costs between $15,000 and $25,000 per kilometer for equipment, requiring new hardware acquisition.
● Installing underground fiber optic cables over $100,000 and $300,000 per km, including trenching expenses and permits.
● OPGW: Low (corrosion-resistant)
● ADSS: Moderate (risk of UV degradation)
● Underground Fiber: High (vulnerable to excavation damage)
● OPGW: 40+ years
● ADSS: 25–30 years
● Underground Fiber: 50 years (if undisturbed)
● The TeraWave® design of OPGW accommodates up to 144 fiber transmission lines.
● ADSS: 24–48 fibers
● Underground Fiber: 1,728 fibers (massive ribbon cables)
● The use of OPGW results in minimal environmental impact as it leverages existing tower infrastructure.
● ADSS: Low
● Underground Fiber: High (soil disruption, habitat loss)
When to Choose Alternatives:
● The ADSS system is applicable in distribution lines operating below 33 kV voltage and lacking grounding requirements.
● The urban area of Manhattan represents a suitable location for underground fiber deployments due to its dense infrastructure.
1. The cross-sectional area of OPGW must be sized to withstand short-circuit currents up to 40 kA, requiring a minimum of 50 mm².
2. The design should incorporate 30 percent extra fibers to ensure growth capacity shortly.
3. The thermal expansion coefficient of OPGW must align with existing conductors to prevent damage to the tower support system.
● Using dynamometers measures and limits stringing stress to a minimum of 20% of ultimate tensile strength.
● For managing signal losses less than 0.1 dB per splice, aerial splice boxes should be installed at 4–6 km.
OPGW serves this 1,100 kV AC transmission corridors in China for various purposes:
● Data transmission: 96-fiber cables relay operational data over 3,300 km from Xinjiang to Anhui.
● Reduce outages: The installation of OPGW led to a 90% reduction in lightning-related outages.
● Support 5G backhaul: The network has established leased fiber optic cables to facilitate 5G backhaul capabilities for 12,000 rural base stations across Gansu province.
SDGI Cable stands out as a leading manufacturer of OPGW, offering:
● Specialized hybrid designs that must be specifically ordered, as they perform optimally under harsh conditions and high fault currents.
● The installation features a range of fiber count selections up to 144, enabling users to expand network bandwidth.
● The system demonstrates success through completed projects across Asia, Africa, and South America.
● The comprehensive engineering support, setup monitoring, and integrated service package under technical support services.
Resilient grid operations, effective communication integration, and cost reduction, can be achieved by power sector companies through the adoption of OPGW technologies. Power utility networks that meet high voltage requirements, smart grids, remote distribution, and aging infrastructure needs, utilize this solution for superior performance in elevated power systems. The infrastructure provided by OPGW enables utilities to develop resilient networks while gaining improved operational control through safer field operations. SDGI Cable customizes OPGW solutions to achieve maximum power system performance while offering specialized expert services to ensure precise requirements are properly aligned.
