AP Sensing has successfully completed a major delivery milestone for the SuedOstLink project, one of the largest onshore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission projects in Europe.
With the final batch of integrated Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) system racks delivered to transmission system operator 50Hertz in December 2025, AP Sensing has met all contractual delivery commitments to date, on time and in close coordination with the customer.
SuedOstLink is a key German energy infrastructure project designed to transport renewable electricity over roughly 540 kilometers from northern and eastern Germany to demand centers in the south-east, near Landshut in Bavaria. The underground HVDC link is jointly developed by transmission system operators 50Hertz and TenneT and is scheduled to go into operation in 2027.
Managing Scale and Complexity in a Megaproject Environment
AP Sensing’s scope of supply includes more than two dozen customer-specific DFOS racks, equipped with Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) instruments (N45 and N62 ) and prepared for later integration of AP Sensing’s newest generation of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. The systems are designed to support power cable monitoring (PCM) functions such as real-time thermal rating (RTTR), online cable fault detection, and third-party intrusion (TPI) monitoring once the link is operational.
The first factory acceptance tests (FATs) were completed in December 2024 followed by deliveries in multiple batches beginning in March. The final shipment was completed exactly one year after the first FAT, an achievement that reflects AP Sensing’s delivery reliability, structured project execution, and close collaboration with 50Hertz throughout the design, testing, and integration phases.
Supporting Germany’s Energy Transition
Once operational, SuedOstLink will play a central role in Germany’s energy transition by enabling long-distance transmission of renewable power with minimal losses. AP Sensing’s DFOS technology will contribute to safe and efficient operation by providing continuous, distributed insight into cable temperature and acoustic events along the route, helping operators optimize asset utilization and detect potential threats early.
While the overall project remains under construction, the successful completion of this delivery phase marks an important step forward and reinforces AP Sensing’s role as a trusted partner for large-scale Power Grid Monitoring applications.
