Semtech Partners with Elvexys and Oiken to Deploy LoRaWAN-Based Sensor for Real‑Time Power Grid Failure Detection

Semtech Corporation announced a partnership with Elvexys, a leading European developer of data‑management and energy‑transport solutions, and Oiken, a Swiss electricity distributor serving 90,000 customers, to introduce an IoT‑enabled sensor for real‑time power‑grid monitoring.

Elvexys integrates Semtech’s LoRa devices and LoRaWAN connectivity to deliver instantaneous data to Oiken’s supervisory control room whenever a grid failure occurs. Oiken reports that adopting the LoRaWAN standard was straightforward to embed into their existing SCADA infrastructure, simplifying field deployment and trimming both time and cost.

“Before deploying IoT sensors, a detected power failure did not trigger instant communication of the short circuit, making it expensive to locate and repair,” said Alain Perruchoud, Converged Network Director at Oiken. “With LoRaWAN‑enabled sensors installed at substations, we now receive real‑time alerts and can dispatch operators directly to the fault location.”

The solution validated by Oiken consists of a DIN‑rail communication module housed in a cabinet and a Rogowski coil that measures current directly on the cable, capturing the peak current characteristic of short circuits. Oiken and Elvexys estimate that omitting LoRaWAN would increase costs by roughly tenfold and extend deployment timelines to two decades.

“Elvexys and Oiken’s deployment of LoRaWAN demonstrates the power of IoT and low‑power wide‑area networks to transform utility infrastructure into smarter, more efficient systems,” said Marc Pégulu, Vice President of IoT Product Marketing and Strategy for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “By detecting and fixing failures instantly, the technology benefits not only utilities but also the citizens who rely on reliable power.”

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